Portsmouth, NH: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Portsmouth
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 7:11 am and sets at 4:11 pm: 9h 00m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 15h 22m, so the swing is 6h 22m.
When it gets better in Portsmouth
- Earliest sunset: 4:08 pm on Dec 9, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 7:15 am on Jan 3.
- Back above 10 hours of daylight: Feb 3.
- By Feb 21 the days grow by 2.8 minutes a day.
Waking and coming home in the dark
With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 50 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 85. 40 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 43.1°N this is as far north as, or farther than, Nashua NH (43°N), where a 1990 survey found 9.7% of adults reported winter depression.
What to do about it in Portsmouth
- You probably do not need a sunrise alarm clock for a 7:00 am start here: only 0 weekday mornings are still properly dark. If you get up earlier, check the hour against the sunrise times in the table below.
- There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 40 weekdays start and end in the dark. If you notice winter low mood, ask a doctor whether one fits you.
- If you head home at 5:30 pm, the sun has already set from Nov 2 to Feb 26: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 2.
Daylight in Portsmouth, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 00m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 5:23 am | 8:16 pm | 14h 53m |
| August 2026 | 5:56 am | 7:36 pm | 13h 41m |
| September 2026 | 6:29 am | 6:42 pm | 12h 13m |
| October 2026 | 7:04 am | 5:51 pm | 10h 47m |
| November 2026 | 6:43 am | 4:14 pm | 9h 31m |
| December 2026 | 7:11 am | 4:11 pm | 9h 00m |
| January 2027 | 7:08 am | 4:41 pm | 9h 33m |
| February 2027 | 6:32 am | 5:22 pm | 10h 50m |
| March 2027 | 6:45 am | 6:56 pm | 12h 11m |
| April 2027 | 5:52 am | 7:33 pm | 13h 41m |
| May 2027 | 5:14 am | 8:06 pm | 14h 52m |
| June 2027 | 5:04 am | 8:26 pm | 15h 22m |
Portsmouth against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Portsmouth (9h 00m, sunset 4:11 pm):
- Dover, NH, 10 mi away: 8h 59m of daylight (-1 min), sunset 4:11 pm (0 min).
- Somersworth, NH, 14 mi away: 8h 58m of daylight (-2 min), sunset 4:11 pm (0 min).
- Amesbury, MA, 17 mi away: 9h 01m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 4:13 pm (+2 min).
- Newburyport, MA, 18 mi away: 9h 02m of daylight (+2 min), sunset 4:12 pm (+1 min).
- Rochester, NH, 19 mi away: 8h 58m of daylight (-2 min), sunset 4:11 pm (0 min).