Today will be the shortest day of the year in the U.S. Winter Solstice begins tonight at 10:27 p.m. Eastern Time, marking the start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Today the sun will be at its lowest angle in its path across the southern sky, and will be casting its longest midday shadows. It's also taking its shortest path across the sky, meaning there will be less daylight today than on any other day of the year. On Friday, the days will start getting longer again, little by little.