In polar and temperate zones, winter is the coldest season of the year; it does not occur in most tropical zones. Every year, it happens after fall and before spring. The axis of the Earth in that hemisphere is pointed away from the Sun, resulting in winter. Different civilizations use different dates to mark the beginning of winter, while others utilise a weather-based definition. Summer in the Northern Hemisphere corresponds to winter in the Southern Hemisphere, and vice versa. Winter is linked with snow and cold temperatures in many parts of the world. The winter solstice occurs when the Sun’s height in relation to the North or South Pole is at its lowest point (that is, the Sun is at its farthest below the horizon as measured from the pole). The shortest day and longest night occur on this day, with day length rising and night length decreasing as the season advances following the solstice. Due to the fluctuation in the solar day throughout the year caused by the Earth’s eccentric orbit, the earliest sunset and latest dawn dates outside the polar regions varies from the date of the winter solstice, and they are dependent on latitude (see earliest and latest sunrise and sunset).

The tilt of the Earth’s axis in relation to its orbital plane has a big impact on weather creation. As the Earth travels in its orbit, it is tilted at a 23.44° angle to the plane of its orbit, causing various latitudes to face the Sun directly. Seasons are created as a result of this fluctuation. When the Northern Hemisphere is experiencing winter, the Southern Hemisphere confronts the Sun more directly, resulting in higher temperatures than the Northern Hemisphere. When the Northern Hemisphere is inclined closer toward the Sun, winter occurs in the Southern Hemisphere. The winter Sun has a lower maximum height in the sky than the summer Sun from the perspective of an observer on Earth.

The lower altitude of the Sun during winter in either hemisphere causes sunlight to strike the Earth at an oblique angle. As a result, less solar energy reaches Earth per unit of surface area. Additionally, because light must travel a longer distance through the atmosphere, the atmosphere may lose more heat. The influence of variations in the Earth’s distance from the Sun (due to the Earth’s elliptical orbit) is insignificant in comparison to these effects.

In the northerly snow”prone latitudes, the meteorological winter (freezing temperatures) manifests itself in a variety of ways, depending on elevation, position versus marine winds, and precipitation. Within Canada (a country known for its frigid winters), Winnipeg, located on the Great Plains and far from the coast, had a high of 11.3 °C (11.7 °F) and a low of 21.4 °C (6.5 °F) in January. In comparison, Vancouver, on the west coast, has a January low of 1.4 °C (34.5 °F), with days well above freezing at 6.9 °C (44.4 °F), thanks to a marine impact from moderating Pacific breezes.

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