First day of summer – Sunday, June 21

Summer has officially arrived, marking the longest day of the year and the beginning of a season that many Wisconsinites eagerly anticipate after months of cold weather.

The first day of astronomical summer falls on June 21 this year, when the Northern Hemisphere experiences the summer solstice, the point the sun reaches its highest point in the sky, and farthest trek north, giving much of Wisconsin nearly 15½ hours of daylight. While the exact amount varies slightly across the state, communities can expect sunrise shortly after 5 a.m. and sunset well after 8:30 p.m.

Although many people think of summer as beginning with Memorial Day or when schools let out, the astronomical season officially starts with the solstice. From this point forward, daylight hours will gradually become shorter, though the change is almost impossible to notice from one day to the next.

For many Wisconsin residents, the arrival of summer signals the start of a busy season filled with vacations, camping trips, county fairs, festivals, farmers markets, fishing, boating, and evenings spent around backyard grills or campfires. State parks and lakes typically see a sharp increase in visitors as families take advantage of the warm weather.

Meteorologists note that summer is also the state’s peak season for thunderstorms. Residents are encouraged to stay weather aware, especially during periods of heat and humidity that can fuel severe storms capable of producing damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes.

While the days will slowly become shorter after the solstice, summer itself is just getting started. The astronomical season will continue until the autumnal equinox arrives in late September, ushering in the first day of fall.

For now, however, Wisconsin enters a season of sunshine, warm evenings, and countless opportunities to enjoy everything the state has to offer outdoors.