Today marks the start of the sunniest two-week period of the year in Australia based on daylength, with the Sun nearing its highest point in the Southern Hemisphere’s sky.

The 2023 summer solstice will occur next Friday, marking the moment our planet’s Southern Hemisphere reaches its furthest tilt towards the Sun. The orientation of Earth relative to the Sun on the date of the summer solstice makes it the Southern Hemisphere’s longest day of the year based on time between sunrise and sunset.

Image: Orientation of Earth relative to the Sun at the Southern Hemisphere's summer solstice.

Today, Friday December 15, is the start of the two-week period that surrounds the 2023 summer solstice, which means this is the beginning of the sunniest fortnight of the year in Australia.

The two weeks surrounding the December solstice is always a time for summer vibes across Australia – beaches are busy, barbecues are sizzling, and pools are always packed. But it is also a notorious time for heatwaves and bushfires in Australia due to the annual peak in solar heating.

You can check how temperatures and rainfall are predicted to affect your part of Australia during the next fortnight using the Weatherzone app.

This year’s summer solstice occurs at 4:50pm AEST on Friday December 22, 2023. Days will start getting shorter than nights across Australia after this date.