Countdown
Days until Winter (Winter Solstice)
Winter officially begins at the Winter Solstice around December 21, marking the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Countdown to winter's arrival.
Time remaining
3 months, 23 days remaining (114 total days).
Anchor date: Sunday, December 21, 2025 · next occurrence resolved automatically
Winter is in 0 years, 3 months, and 23 days (114 total days) — next date Monday, December 21, 2026.
Quick facts
- Astronomical event
- Winter Solstice (Sun at southernmost declination)
- Typical date
- December 21 or 22 (Northern Hemisphere)
- Daylight length
- Shortest daylight period and longest night of the year
- Winter holidays
- Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year's Eve, MLK Day, Presidents' Day
- Turning point
- Daylight hours immediately begin increasing the day after the winter solstice
How we calculate
Remaining time targets the next occurrence of this date (fixed calendar day or holiday rule), then breaks the gap into years, months, days, and a live HMS clock.
Anchor ISO: 2025-12-21
· recurrence: yearly-fixed · day-level anchors use a noon local interpretation to avoid DST edge flips.
Timeline
- December 21 Astronomical Winter begins on the Winter Solstice.
- Dec 25 – Jan 1 Major winter holiday season and New Year celebration.
- January–February Coldest climatological months of the year across the US.
- March 20 Winter concludes as Spring arrives at the Vernal Equinox.
Related dates
Places on US5
Tools & time
FAQ
When is the first day of winter?
Astronomical winter begins on the Winter Solstice, usually on December 21 or December 22.
Is the winter solstice the shortest day of the year?
Yes, it has the fewest hours of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere.
Do days get longer after the winter solstice?
Yes! Starting the day immediately following the winter solstice, daylight hours gradually increase every day until the summer solstice in June.
When does winter end?
Winter officially ends around March 20 at the Vernal Equinox.