Summer Solstice Arrives, But Will It Bring The Heat To California?

CALIFORNIA — Summer officially arrived in California Wednesday with the summer solstice, marking the longest day of the year and the astronomical start of the season, when the north pole is tilted most toward the sun.

With sunset at 8:07 p.m. and 14 hours, 25 minutes and 32 seconds of daylight in Los Angeles on Wednesday, the days will begin to grow slightly shorter Thursday and onward toward the fall equinox until the winter solstice. The change is gradual, shaving off just a few seconds each day, at first, and losing about 90 seconds of light each day by the end of July. The next sunset before 7 p.m. will not arrive until mid-September.

Although the June gloom has been persistent, the Golden State should still have its share of sunshine to enjoy this season, even if reliable warmth arrives a little later than usual.

A few factors may influence the summer ahead, including the early formation of El Niño, its potential strength, and how fast it gains steam. Though the weather phenomenon's effects are usually more pronounced in the fall and winter, it has also been associated with record heat years.

"After three years when La Niña had a heavy hand in the storm track across North America, its reign has finally come to an end and has been swiftly replaced by its counterpart: El Niño," AccuWeather forecasters wrote Wednesday. "How strong El Niño becomes will determine how exactly it will affect the weather in the U.S. this summer."

While parts of the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies may be looking at early warm-ups and July heat, the story in the West looks different for much of California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona.

"Sustained hot spells may slowly take old over the western U.S. this year following a winter with historic snowfall and excessive rainfall," AccuWeather added. "The lingering moisture in the ground, paired with the cool water off the immediate coast, will lead to a delayed start to summery weather in some of the region's biggest cities, such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego."

Low clouds hanging on along the California coast may limit temperatures early in the season, but forecasters believe some periods of heat will materialize later on in the Golden State. Forecasters also expect monsoon season may kick off late, which could increase the risk of thunderstorms and lightning later in the season when there is more fuel for wildfires to ignite and spread.

Updated climate outlooks still favor warmer-than-average temperatures in California over the coming three-month period. Zooming in on July the odds are more inconclusive for the Golden State, while favoring heat in the South, Southeast and Northeast.

In the near term, National Weather Service forecasters see some subtle warming ahead for SoCal and NorCal this weekend, even as highs stay a few degrees below normal. However, there are some early hints that more seasonable temperatures may arrive to close out the month.