A week from today and the shortest day is here. Some may argue that it’s the following day but whichever way you look at it, the days will very gradually start to draw out.

The weather recently has already shown glimpses of midwinter conditions but if the truth be told, it’s often the following 4- 6 weeks after the shortest day that the coldest temperatures are upon us.

It’s usually 2-3 weeks before it becomes a little more obvious that the days are starting to draw out. At the moment in some parts of the country, the sun isn’t rising until after 8am and setting before 5pm, which is a far cry from midsummer when it’s with us for a maximum of up to 14-15 hours.

Personally it feels that we’re on the downhill slide to summer once we hit the shortest day, even though almost 5 and a half months have to lapse before the warmest season is officially on our doorstep.

By Weather Analyst Richard Green