Tempe, AZ: shortest day and earliest sunset

The shortest day in Tempe

On Dec 21 the sun rises at 7:28 am and sets at 5:24 pm: 9h 56m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 14h 22m, so the swing is 4h 26m.

When it gets better in Tempe

• Earliest sunset: 5:20 pm on Dec 3, before the shortest day (here is why).
• Latest sunrise (standard time): 7:32 am on Jan 7.
• Back above 10 hours of daylight: Jan 3.
• 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 74 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 38. 33 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.

At 33.4°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 Tempe

• A sunrise alarm clock is worth considering if you get up at 7:00 am or earlier: 43 weekday mornings here are still properly dark at that hour, mostly between Nov 16 and Feb 25.
• There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 33 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 9 to Dec 30: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 9.

Daylight in Tempe, month by month

Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 56m.

Tempe against the places around it

On the shortest day, compared with Tempe (9h 56m, sunset 5:24 pm):

• Chandler, AZ, 9 mi away: 9h 57m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:24 pm (0 min).
• Paradise Valley, AZ, 11 mi away: 9h 56m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:24 pm (0 min).
• Gilbert, AZ, 12 mi away: 9h 57m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:24 pm (0 min).
• Mesa, AZ, 12 mi away: 9h 56m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:23 pm (-1 min).
• Phoenix, AZ, 16 mi away: 9h 56m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:24 pm (0 min).