Sat. (Dec. 21, 2024) At 3:12AM here in Middle Tennessee, winter officially begins at 3:21 AM on Saturday morning. It's a tradition for many locals, dating back decades, to rise early and greet Old Man Winter. The winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, which is the day with the shortest amount of daylight, marks this occasion.

On the 2024 Winter Solstice in Murfreesboro, we expect the sunrise around 6:48 AM, followed by sunset 9 hours and 42 minutes later at 4:33 PM.

Caution is advised: The months featuring more dark hours and fewer sunshine hours can lead to a mental health condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). WGNS has recently aired interviews discussing SAD, noting that decreased serotonin and increased melatonin levels may contribute to the disorder.

The seasonal shift can interfere with the body's circadian rhythm, or internal clock, potentially throwing individuals off their regular daily schedule.