Home / Editor's Pick /

Lowest temperature is just after sunrise

09:00
6 January 2023

Coldest time of the day
Lowest temperature is just after sunrise

setting-sun

Did you know that the coldest time of the day is normally about half an hour after sunrise?

That surprises a lot of people because it seems logical that the coldest time should be in the middle of the night. However, all through the night the ground is losing heat and the air is steadily getting colder.

Then the sun pops over the horizon, but its first rays are very weak. When the sun initially rises, there is still more heat being lost then is being received.

After about half an hour or so, the sun is strong enough to add a little warmth and the temperatures can start to rise.

Of course there are plenty of things which can cause the temperature to change during the day. Warm air can drift in from another area or rain can drag the temperature down.

However, if nothing else is affecting the weather, the coldest time of the day will be just after dawn.

Weather & Radar editorial team
More on the topic
Weather radar showing clouds and showers over Algeria and Morocco. Next to it, a warning map with the rain area in Algeria marked. Surrounding regions mostly sunny and dry.
Thursday, 18 December 2025

Algeria affected

Rain in the desert
The weather map shows extremely low temperatures in Canada.
Monday, 15 December 2025

Minus 53 degrees

Record cold in Canada's Yukon Territory
Map of Europe showing low pressure over Russia and a strong cold air flow towards Eastern Europe. Significant drop in temperatures across large parts of the east.
Thursday, 11 December 2025

Frost and snowfall

Cold air intrusion in Eastern Europe
All weather news
This might also interest you
Weather graphic showing rain and wind fields over the Canary Islands and a central warning symbol.
Friday, 12 December 2025

Storm and rain

Turbulent weather in the Canary Islands
Split weather map showing UK wind speeds in orange-red shades up to 40 mph on the left and warning levels in green-yellow on the right, with a central wind warning sign.
Wednesday, 22 October 2025

Warnings active

Storm Benjamin impacts the UK
Mammatus clouds
Thursday, 21 August 2025

Unusual view

Mammatus clouds over Ireland
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

facebooktwittertikToklinkList