The Delaware Valley has already tasted bitterly cold winter temperatures, but the coldest season of them all officially begins on Saturday, December 21.
Also known as the winter solstice, the first day of meteorological winter is also the darkest day of the year.
So how much sunlight will the Philadelphia region get on Friday and Saturday? A paltry nine hours, 19 minutes and 59 seconds.
Compared to the summer solstice, that is five hours and 41 minutes less daylight than in June.
CBS Philadelphia
The winter solstice officially begins at 4:20 a.m. in the region, and Old Man Winter kicks off the season with a frigid weekend and an extended cold snap for the following week.
On Saturday, highs will only be around 35 degrees with mostly sunny skies.
On Sunday, temperatures will really take a dip into the teens and 20s. High temperatures are not forecast to rise above freezing, so if you go out, dress for temperatures in the low 20s.
But here’s the good news: After Saturday, the days will get a little longer as the calendar shifts toward spring and summer.
