Evening strolls have long been a summer staple across Greater Victoria, whether it’s a walk along Dallas Road, a pause at Island View Beach, or a quiet moment on Whiffin Spit.
But the days of post-work sunsets stretching past 8 p.m. are drawing to a close.
Friday, Aug. 29, will mark the last sunset of the summer that lands after 8 p.m. The very next evening, Aug. 30, the sun will dip below the horizon at 7:58 p.m., edging the region closer to the darker, cooler evenings of fall.
The change is gradual, but noticeable.
The longest day of the year, June 20, brought 16 hours and six minutes of daylight, with the sun setting at 9:19 p.m. Since then, daylight has slowly been slipping away, shrinking by anywhere from 45 seconds to three and a half minutes each day.
Mornings have shifted too.
On June 20, the sun rose at 5:11 a.m. By Aug. 29, sunrise will be at 6:27 a.m., a delay that many early risers already feel.
While the later light may make mornings a little slower, it also underscores the benefits of seeking out those first rays. Morning light exposure is tied to regulating circadian rhythms, improving sleep and mood, boosting serotonin, and balancing melatonin.
The official end of summer does not come until Sept. 22, giving residents a few more weeks of warmth before autumn takes hold.
But daylight savings will deal another shift on Nov. 2, when clocks move back and another hour of evening light is lost.
For now, there is still time to chase those late-August sunsets. Friday may be the last to linger past 8 p.m., but it is one more reminder to enjoy the long days while they last.
