Summer is here! What to know about the summer solstice, aka 'longest day of the year'

The temperature in Western and Southwestern U.S. has been in the triple digits for a few weeks now, but don’t be surprised if someone tells you it technically isn’t summer yet.

The first day of summer 2021 is June 20 at 11:32 p.m. EDT. It's often called the longest day of the year because it's the day with the most daylight (every "day" has 24 hours).  

For many cultures around the world, the first day of summer is welcomed with celebrations and rituals that recognize the sun's importance to human life. Summer solstice observations take many forms around the world.

While it marks the first day of summer, the real heat is still to come. On average, there is a one-month lag between the solstice and peak summer temperatures, according to climatologist Brian Brettschneider. That's why July is almost always the hottest month of the year in most locations. 

Here are facts about the summer solstice:

What is the summer solstice?

The summer solstice is the day when the sun travels its longest path through the sky and reaches its highest point.

Due to the tilt of the Earth on its axis, the North Pole is shifted almost directly toward the sun, hence the long hours of daylight, according to Britannica.com.

Read More:    USAtoday.com

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