Qatar Welcomes Winter as Winter Solstice Arrives

Qatar officially entered the winter season on Friday, in conjunction with the winter solstice, according to the Qatar Meteorology Department (QMD). 

اليوم الجمعة بداية #الانقلاب_الشتوي وهو بداية فصل الشتاء فلكياً. #قطر #فلك pic.twitter.com/0gaMBNaLpg

— أرصاد قطر (@qatarweather) December 22, 2023

The winter solstice marks the astronomical onset of winter, signifying the conclusion of autumn and the commencement of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

In a statement shared on its official X channel (formerly known as Twitter), the QMD explained that this annual occurrence is a result of the Earth's rotational axis tilt of 23.5° while orbiting the sun. During the winter solstice, the sun aligns perpendicularly to the Tropic of Capricorn.

On Friday, Qatar and the entire Northern Hemisphere experienced the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Due to time zone variations, Europe, Africa, and Asia also observed their winter solstice on December 22nd.

The QMD highlighted that the winter solstice represents an astronomical phenomenon, emphasizing that December 22nd, 2023, marked the Northern Hemisphere's shortest day and longest night, with no sunrise or sunset at the Arctic Circle.

Conversely, the Southern Hemisphere, where only approximately 10% of the global population resides, is currently experiencing the reverse situation. 

As winter settles in, Qatar anticipates cooler temperatures and a shift in weather patterns throughout the season.