Winston-Salem, NC: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Winston-Salem
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 7:28 am and sets at 5:10 pm: 9h 42m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 14h 37m, so the swing is 4h 55m.
When it gets better in Winston-Salem
- Earliest sunset: 5:06 pm on Dec 5, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 7:32 am on Jan 6.
- Back above 10 hours of daylight: Jan 16.
- By Feb 21 the days grow by 2.2 minutes a day.
Waking and coming home in the dark
With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 122 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 55. 43 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 36.1°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 Winston-Salem
- A sunrise alarm clock is worth getting here: on 67 weekdays the sun is still at least 20 minutes from rising at 7:00 am. Dark mornings run from Sep 11 to Apr 6, so set it up before Sep 11.
- There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 43 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 Jan 15: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 2.
Daylight in Winston-Salem, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 42m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 6:20 am | 8:35 pm | 14h 15m |
| August 2026 | 6:44 am | 8:04 pm | 13h 19m |
| September 2026 | 7:08 am | 7:19 pm | 12h 11m |
| October 2026 | 7:33 am | 6:37 pm | 11h 04m |
| November 2026 | 7:04 am | 5:10 pm | 10h 06m |
| December 2026 | 7:28 am | 5:10 pm | 9h 42m |
| January 2027 | 7:29 am | 5:36 pm | 10h 07m |
| February 2027 | 7:02 am | 6:08 pm | 11h 07m |
| March 2027 | 7:23 am | 7:34 pm | 12h 10m |
| April 2027 | 6:40 am | 8:00 pm | 13h 19m |
| May 2027 | 6:11 am | 8:25 pm | 14h 14m |
| June 2027 | 6:04 am | 8:41 pm | 14h 37m |
Winston-Salem against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Winston-Salem (9h 42m, sunset 5:10 pm):
- Clemmons, NC, 9 mi away: 9h 43m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:11 pm (+1 min).
- Lewisville, NC, 9 mi away: 9h 42m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:11 pm (+1 min).
- Kernersville, NC, 10 mi away: 9h 42m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:10 pm (0 min).
- High Point, NC, 17 mi away: 9h 43m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:10 pm (0 min).
- Thomasville, NC, 18 mi away: 9h 43m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:10 pm (0 min).