Uruguay prepares to officially receive the astronomical winter. The change of season will occur on Sunday June 21, 2026 at 5:24 in the morningthe exact moment in which the winter solstice in the southern hemisphere. The phenomenon will also mark the day with the fewest hours of daylight and the longest night of the year.
Although the calendar usually associates the beginning of winter with June 21, the truth is that the season begins at a precise astronomical moment that varies slightly from one year to the next due to the movement of the Earth around the Sun.
Why does the winter solstice occur?
He winter solstice occurs when the southern hemisphere reaches its maximum inclination in the opposite direction to the Sun. As a consequence, the sun’s rays arrive less directly and the duration of daylight is reduced to a minimum.
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For this reason, June 21 will be the shortest day of the year in Uruguay. According to data released by the Los Molinos Astronomical Observatory (OALM)he Sun will rise at 7:52 and set at 17:40completing the day with the fewest hours of light in all of 2026.
Starting on the solstice, the days will gradually begin to lengthen. However, the lowest temperatures are usually recorded weeks later, so the most intense cold is usually felt during July and August.
Why do the date and time change every year?
The solstices and equinoxes They do not always occur on the same day or at the same time. This is because the time that the Land takes to complete one revolution around the Sun It does not exactly coincide with the duration of the Gregorian calendar. This difference causes small adjustments in the dates and times of the astronomical seasons.
The term “solstice” comes from Latin and means “the sun stops”in reference to the apparent movement of the star in the sky, whose variation is almost imperceptible during those days.
