Spotlight: Are the Hudson Valley’s Sunsets Already Getting Later?

A heated debate has erupted in the Hudson Valley, and it all has to do with how late the sun has been setting.

It's (nearly) common knowledge that the longest day of the year is on the summer solstice (around June 21st) and the shortest day of the year is six months later, during the winter solstice. If that's true, however, why are there claims that sunsets are already getting later?

A heated debate has erupted in the Hudson Valley over whether or not sunsets are already getting later in the area (TSM Poughkeepsie)

Are Sunsets Already Getting Later in the Hudson Valley?

"We've *already* experienced our earliest sunset of the year! The sun will now be setting later every day, into June of next year", came the polarizing post in a local Hudson Valley Facebook group. Soon, the comment section erupted into chaos.

While days are still getting shorter in New York, sunsets are actually getting later (TSM Poughkeepsie)

The Winter Solstice and Sunsets in New York State

"Love the optimism but December 21 is the shortest day", said one commenter. "Uhhhh, no", stated another. "The amount of confidently incorrect people in this thread is disconcerting", complained a third. So what's the truth?

The earliest sunset in the Hudson Valley was on December 9th 2024 (TSM Poughkeepsie)

Days Are Getting Shorter AND Sunsets Are Getting Later in the Hudson Valley

Like many things in life, multiple things can be true at the same time, and that's exactly the case with sunsets in New York State. While the shortest day of the year isn't until the winter solstice, the sun is already setting later in the day in the Hudson Valley. Here's how that's possible:

Explaining How Sunsets Are getting Later Before the Winter Solstice

Many people in the comment section were too focused on sunsets in the Hudson Valley without taking sunrises into consideration. While sunsets are getting later, the sun is also still rising later, meaning that days will continue to shorten until December 21st.

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To set the record straight, the earliest sunset of 2024 in the Hudson Valley was on December 9th. The silver lining of this misunderstanding is that for the next few weeks, Hudson Valley residents will have the perfect piece of trivia up their sleeves.