Winter solstice: When the days will start to get longer and date clocks go forward

A Met Office video explains what happens on the winter solstice which occurs in December.

The winter solstice - the shortest day of the year - will occur later this month.

Here’s all you need to know about the winter solstice, including what the winter solstice is and the date it’ll take place.

What is the winter solstice?

As Royal Museums Greenwich explains, in summer the Sun rises higher in the sky and is above the horizon for longer. In winter, the Sun's position is lower and its time in the sky is shorter. This variation happens because the Earth orbits at an angle: it is tilted 23.4 degrees on its axis.

During summer in the northern hemisphere the North Pole is tilted towards the Sun, meaning this part of the Earth receives more direct sunlight and longer daylight hours. During