By Rod Hill on 2009-12-20
It sounds a little crazy but winter does not begin until Monday. The solstice will occur at 9:48 a.m. our time. The earth is actually closer to the sun during the winter season but the north pole tips away from the sun bringing the cold winter season. Soon the daylight hours will begin to lengthen and by February, we will have gained enough sunlight hours to see normal highs climb back toward 50 degrees! Currently Portland receives about 8.5 hours of daylight each day.
NOAA Article Of Discovery