Today, Dec. 21, is the winter solstice, otherwise known as the shortest day of the year.

Today will of course have 24 hours, just like any other, but it is around this point in the year when the Northern Hemisphere gets its fewest hours of daylight each day. (It’s also the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.)

Around the peak of the summer, or the summer solstice (next one will be June 20, 2025), places in Alabama get more than 14 hours of daylight.

Compare that with today, when Alabama will have only about 10 hours (or less) of daylight. Here is the amount of daylight for several Alabama cities today (in hours, minutes and seconds):

* Huntsville: 9:49:33

* Birmingham: 9:55:47

* Auburn: 10:00:21

* Tuscaloosa: 9:57:22

* Montgomery: 10:01:33

* Mobile: 10:09:38

After today the days will gradually get longer, reaching the peak on the summer solstice.

Today will definitely feel winter-like across Alabama. The National Weather Service is expecting temperatures to only make it into the 40s across north and central Alabama today. South Alabama will get into the low 50s. (The temperature forecast for Saturday is at the top of this post.)

Tonight could be the coldest of the week for many areas in the state. Temperatures will fall well into the 20s in north and central Alabama, and even south Alabama will be near or below the freezing point.

Here are the forecast low temperatures for tonight:

A gradual warmup will begin on Sunday, and by Christmas Day, on Wednesday, much of Alabama will have highs back into the upper 50s or 60s.

Here is the updated temperature forecast for Christmas Day: