When Does Winter Solstice 2013 Begin in Georgia?

Winter Solstice 2013 arrives Saturday, creating the shortest day of the year (and longest night), but also giving hope to those already antsy for shorts weather.

According to TimeandDate.com, the first day of winter in Georgia will have daylight for less than 10 hours.

In Atlanta, Dec. 21 will have 9 hours, 54 minutes and 3 seconds of sunlight, a second less than on Dec. 20 and 22.

By comparison, length of day on Dec. 21 elsewhere in the U.S.:

• Anchorage — 5h, 27m, 41s
• Chicago — 9h, 7m, 43s
• Los Angeles — 9h, 53 m, 3s
• Miami — 10h, 31m, 45s
• New York — 9h, 15m, 15s
• Seattle — 8h, 25m, 24s

While the day will be short, Dec. 21 also is the starting point for later sunsets and longer days (for glass-half-full types). Sunset on the 21st in Atlanta is 5:33 p.m. and will be a full six seconds later on New Year's Eve.

The Winter Solstice is one of four major points in the Earth’s annual progress around the sun. The Summer Solstice in June, for example, marks the longest day of the year.

For a great explanation on the Winter Solstice, check out this article on Space.com.