A Summer Reality Check in Late July

It finally hit me last night while watching my sons swim in our backyard pool. The Sun was setting earlier. That shouldn't be too surprising since today marks 40 days since the Summer Solstice, and we're just five days away from the midpoint of Summer. You’ve probably already begun to notice the subtle changes across southwestern Connecticut.

Here’s another point to ponder. Most school systems across southwestern Connecticut open their doors in a little more than four weeks. How is that possible? It seems like only yesterday we were watching our children celebrate the last day of school. That was over five weeks ago. August begins this Wednesday!

The days are indeed getting “shorter.” In fact, we have lost nearly an hour (47 minutes) of daylight since the first day of Summer. Sunrise on June 20st happened at 5:19. This morning’s Sunrise was at 5:47, 28 minutes later. Sunset is now at 8:10, 19 minutes before the latest Sunset, at 8:29, on the Solstice. The sky is getting darker much earlier.

By mid-August, the shorter days become even more pronounced, with Sunrise and Sunset times at 6:02 and 7:51, respectively. The “shorter” days have to do with the Earth’s revolution around the Sun, and the 23.5 degree tilt on its axis. By the end of September, the Autumnal Equinox begins a six-month period of longer nights and shorter days in the Northern Hemisphere.

Need further proof that we’re moving through Summer rather quickly? Training camps for National Football League teams opened last week. The New England Patriots open their preseason schedule one week from Thursday, August 9, at home against the New Orleans Saints. And, in what lately has become a rite of late-Summer, the three-time defending state champion Fairfield American 12-year-old Little League baseball team begins play in the New England Regional tournament later this week.

Today may very well be the best day of the week under a mix of sun and clouds with a high temperature near 80 degrees. Tonight will become mostly cloudy and mild with lows in the 60s. Tomorrow will be mostly cloudy and slightly cooler with a high of 75 to 80 degrees. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible Wednesday through the start of the weekend.

Paul