Surprise, AZ: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Surprise
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 7:31 am and sets at 5:26 pm: 9h 55m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 14h 24m, so the swing is 4h 29m.
When it gets better in Surprise
- Earliest sunset: 5:21 pm on Dec 4, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 7:35 am on Jan 8.
- Back above 10 hours of daylight: Jan 5.
- By Feb 21 the days grow by 2 minutes a day.
Waking and coming home in the dark
With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 75 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 35. 31 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 33.7°N this sits between Sarasota FL (27°N, 1.4%) and Nashua NH (43°N, 9.7%) in a 1990 survey of winter depression by latitude.
What to do about it in Surprise
- A sunrise alarm clock is worth considering if you get up at 7:00 am or earlier: 46 weekday mornings here are still properly dark at that hour, mostly between Nov 16 and Feb 26.
- There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 31 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 10 to Dec 28: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 10.
Daylight in Surprise, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 55m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 5:34 am | 7:38 pm | 14h 03m |
| August 2026 | 5:56 am | 7:09 pm | 13h 13m |
| September 2026 | 6:17 am | 6:28 pm | 12h 10m |
| October 2026 | 6:40 am | 5:49 pm | 11h 09m |
| November 2026 | 7:07 am | 5:24 pm | 10h 16m |
| December 2026 | 7:31 am | 5:26 pm | 9h 55m |
| January 2027 | 7:32 am | 5:50 pm | 10h 18m |
| February 2027 | 7:08 am | 6:20 pm | 11h 12m |
| March 2027 | 6:32 am | 6:42 pm | 12h 10m |
| April 2027 | 5:52 am | 7:05 pm | 13h 13m |
| May 2027 | 5:25 am | 7:28 pm | 14h 03m |
| June 2027 | 5:20 am | 7:43 pm | 14h 24m |
Surprise against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Surprise (9h 55m, sunset 5:26 pm):
- El Mirage, AZ, 9 mi away: 9h 55m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:25 pm (-1 min).
- Peoria, AZ, 12 mi away: 9h 54m of daylight (-1 min), sunset 5:25 pm (-1 min).
- Glendale, AZ, 18 mi away: 9h 56m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:25 pm (-1 min).
- Buckeye, AZ, 20 mi away: 9h 56m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:27 pm (+1 min).
- Phoenix, AZ, 22 mi away: 9h 56m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:24 pm (-2 min).