Summer 2024 start date: Guide to first day of summer

Summer 2024 has arrived with a heat wave in Delaware, marking the longest day of the year on the summer solstice.

Summer 2024 has finally arrived, bringing with it the summer solstice, the day with the most sunlight. The first day of summer this year falls on Thursday, June 20, marking the longest day of the year. On the summer solstice, the sun reaches its highest point in the sky, resulting in an abundance of daylight hours.

In Delaware, the summer heat is reaching dangerous levels, with an excessive heat watch in effect. As the summer solstice approaches, the days will gradually begin to shorten, leading up to the start of fall on September 22. This shift in daylight hours is a result of the intricate relationship between Earth's orbit around the sun and its daily rotation.

Stonehenge, located in Salisbury, United Kingdom, was constructed to align with the sun on the solstices. This year, the summer solstice will be celebrated at Stonehenge from 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 20 to 8 a.m. on Friday, June 21. The summer solstice is a significant event that marks the peak of sunlight and the beginning of the gradual transition into the fall season.