Seattle's First 5 PM Sunset Since November Is Thursday

SEATTLE — With less than two months until the spring equinox, Seattle this week is marking another seasonal milestone. The sun will set after 5 p.m. on Thursday for the first time since daylight saving time ended in early November.

Points south of Seattle, like Olympia, reached the milestone earlier this week — albeit cloudily —with Seattle and the Eastside not far behind.

The good times will keep rolling through February as the Emerald City tacks on another 3 minutes of light each day, and the first 6 p.m. sunset arrives in early March. Within a week, sunset times will vault to 7 p.m. as we "spring forward."

Upcoming daylight milestones in Seattle

• Jan. 26
  • Sunset: 5:01 p.m.
  • Day length: 9 hours, 18 minutes
• Feb. 28
  • Sunset: 5:52 p.m.
  • Day length: 11 hours
• March 5
  • Sunset: 6 p.m.
  • Day length: 11 hours, 18 minutes
• March 12 (Daylight saving time begins)
  • Sunset: 7:10 p.m.
  • Day length: 11 hours, 42 minutes
• March 20 (Spring equinox)
  • Sunset: 7:22 p.m.
  • Day length: 12 hours, 9 minutes

While the next few days have their fair share of clouds in the forecast, Sunday and Monday look to stay sunny as a cold front brings winter temperatures back into the mix.

In a briefing Wednesday, the National Weather Service said Puget Sound could expect below-average temperatures starting Sunday and lasting through much of next week, with highs topping out in the 30s and overnight lows dipping into the 20s.

A chance for light lowland snow is in the forecast Saturday night through Sunday morning, with more chances from Monday night through Wednesday. At this time, forecasters are not expecting significant accumulations.