Home
Weather Dublin
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
    Home / Editor's Pick /

    Midnight sun: Relentless daylight in the arctic

06:00
21 May 2023

Midnight sun
Relentless daylight in the arctic

Midnight in June in the Khibiny Mountains, Arctic Russia, with a light blue sky
Midnight in June in the Khibiny Mountains, Arctic Russia.

Can you imagine never seeing the sun set during the summer months?

During this time of year, a phenomenon called ‘Midnight Sun’ or 'Polar Day’ occurs in places north of the Arctic circle, when the sun does not set below the horizon.

In Norilsk (69.3° N in latitude), the Midnight Sun this year lasts from 20th May to July 24th.

The further north the location, the longer the Midnight Sun. In Svalbard, Norway (77.8° N), there is no sunset between the end of April to late August, whereas at the North Pole, it lasts for six months.

The opposite is then true during winter, when the sun does not rise above the horizon, and there is no daylight. This is called the Polar Night and begins around the Autumn Equinox in September.

Even in the British Isles, though not quite land of the Midnight Sun, northern extremities of Scotland experience sustained nautical twilight, where the sun never dips more than 12° below the horizon.

This occurs between the end of May and mid-July, so don't miss the opportunity to get out there and snap some shots! You can share them with us via our uploader.

Weather & Radar editorial team
More on the topic
Drought brings flash flood risks. As rain returns. . . Wednesday 19 August 2026
Weather radar map of the UK and Ireland showing widespread showers, with a rain icon and flood warning symbol highlighting the risk from rainfall.
Wednesday 19 August 2026

As rain returns

Drought brings flash flood risks
Record warmth in the Mediterranean. High water temperatures. . . Tuesday 18 August 2026
Split graphic showing a hot southern Europe temperature map beside a sunny Mediterranean beach, with a sea-temperature icon highlighting very warm coastal waters.
Tuesday 18 August 2026

High water temperatures

Record warmth in the Mediterranean
An eventful week on camera. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday 16 August 2026
Split image showing a golden sunset reflecting across calm sea on the left and a rugged mountain rising above green vegetation and water beneath broken clouds on the right.
Sunday 16 August 2026

Your weather - Your shots

An eventful week on camera
All weather news
This might also interest you
Bright and warm conditions take hold. Spring-like outlook. . . Thursday 23 April 2026
Split UK map showing warm temperatures up to 21 degrees in orange on the left and clear sunny conditions with temperatures from 12 to 18 degrees on the right, with sun icons across the country.
Thursday 23 April 2026

Spring-like outlook

Bright and warm conditions take hold
Flooding, gales, and heavy snow. Storm Chandra. . . Tuesday 27 January 2026
Split image showing aerial flooding in a town with muddy water covering roads on the left, and a rural road on the right blocked by heavy snowfall with vans stopped and a person walking in snow.
Tuesday 27 January 2026

Storm Chandra

Flooding, gales, and heavy snow
Historic Storm Éowyn arrives. On this day.... . . Saturday 24 January 2026
Split image showing a person in a yellow jacket struggling against strong winds and heavy rain on a street at night on the left, and an Irish wind forecast map on the right with red and purple shading, gusts up to 75 mph, and a wind warning icon, divided by a curved white line.
Saturday 24 January 2026

On this day...

Historic Storm Éowyn arrives
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwitteryouTubelinkList