Although daylight saving happens every year, it’s hard to believe that Manchester hasn’t enjoyed a 6pm sunset since all the way back on October 20th, 2024. Yes, it’s a been a long five months (and then some!) of dark and cold nights but they are soon coming to an end…at least for seven months until the clocks go back in the autumn.
Bringing some brightness to our day, this weekend welcomes the first 6pm sunset of the year in Manchester, meaning you can leap out of the office and into the nearest watering hole without streetlights being a complete necessity. This pretty much means we’re creeping closer and closer towards summer – hallelujah!
Are we jumping the gun there? Perhaps, although we’ve definitely been blessed with some sunny days recently, but the point is this: it’s smooth(er) sailing from here. At least until daylight savings rear their head once more later this year, but let’s try not to think about that one for now.
According to tracking site Time and Date, the first 6pm sunset in Manchester will take place on March 8 when the sun isn’t leaving us until bang on 6pm – plus, it’s a Saturday so an even better way to enjoy the weekend.
This means from now and until the end of this month it will be a slightly easier endurance test before we get treated to the art of the 7pm sunset (from March 30, if you were wondering). This is then followed by 8pm sunsets later on in April (from April 10) thanks to the clocks going forward.
And look, if we’re being honest – we still think 6pm is far too early for the sun to set. Sure, it’s unrealistic to ask for daylight until 9pm all year round, but wouldn’t it be nice if there was some kind of happy medium? Surely there’s some way to make it possible for us to go to and from work while it is light, rather than losing daytime light hours to the 9-5 and travelling under the cover of darkness…
Nonetheless, we will take this as the first sign that summer is on its way and the cold and dark months will, in fact, end. Now, get me to a beer garden with a pint in hand!