Wichita Falls, TX: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Wichita Falls
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 7:35 am and sets at 5:29 pm: 9h 54m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 14h 25m, so the swing is 4h 31m.
When it gets better in Wichita Falls
- Earliest sunset: 5:25 pm on Dec 4, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 7:40 am on Jan 7.
- Back above 10 hours of daylight: Jan 6.
- 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 159 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 27. 27 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 33.9°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 Wichita Falls
- A sunrise alarm clock is worth getting here: on 100 weekdays the sun is still at least 20 minutes from rising at 7:00 am. Dark mornings run from Aug 21 to Apr 16, so set it up before Aug 21.
- There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 27 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 16 to Dec 22: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 16.
Daylight in Wichita Falls, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 54m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 6:38 am | 8:43 pm | 14h 04m |
| August 2026 | 7:00 am | 8:14 pm | 13h 13m |
| September 2026 | 7:22 am | 7:32 pm | 12h 10m |
| October 2026 | 7:44 am | 6:53 pm | 11h 09m |
| November 2026 | 7:12 am | 5:28 pm | 10h 15m |
| December 2026 | 7:35 am | 5:29 pm | 9h 54m |
| January 2027 | 7:37 am | 5:54 pm | 10h 17m |
| February 2027 | 7:12 am | 6:24 pm | 11h 11m |
| March 2027 | 7:37 am | 7:46 pm | 12h 10m |
| April 2027 | 6:56 am | 8:10 pm | 13h 14m |
| May 2027 | 6:29 am | 8:33 pm | 14h 04m |
| June 2027 | 6:24 am | 8:48 pm | 14h 25m |
Wichita Falls against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Wichita Falls (9h 54m, sunset 5:29 pm):
- Burkburnett, TX, 12 mi away: 9h 53m of daylight (-1 min), sunset 5:29 pm (0 min).
- Lawton, OK, 49 mi away: 9h 50m of daylight (-4 min), sunset 5:27 pm (-2 min).
- Duncan, OK, 51 mi away: 9h 51m of daylight (-3 min), sunset 5:25 pm (-4 min).
- Altus, OK, 68 mi away: 9h 50m of daylight (-4 min), sunset 5:30 pm (+1 min).
- Mineral Wells, TX, 79 mi away: 9h 59m of daylight (+5 min), sunset 5:30 pm (+1 min).