Today in North Carolina, USA, the sun rises at 6:41 AM and sets at 8:00 PM, giving the city exactly 13h 19m of daylight. That is 2 minutes shorter than yesterday—just past its peak, losing daylight slowly. With 122 days until the Winter Solstice on December 21, North Carolina is currently in its Summer season.
Golden Hour & Twilight Windows in North Carolina
For photographers, filmmakers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the morning golden hour in North Carolina runs from N/A to 7:15 AM. The evening golden hour begins at 7:25 PM and lasts until 8:00 PM.
Civil twilight—when there is still sufficient ambient light to see clearly outdoors—begins at N/A. North Carolina sits in the subtropics, where the annual swing in daylight is moderate.
Solar Noon & UV Index
Solar noon in North Carolina falls exactly at 1:20 PM, which is the moment the sun reaches its peak altitude of 15.18 above the horizon. At this specific time, the solar angle produces a relatively low UV exposure day for North Carolina, typical of its Summer season.
Why Does Sunrise Shift in North Carolina?
At North Carolina's latitude of 35.6729639°, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 265.75° (W). Because of the Earth's axial tilt, this position shifts slightly every day. Sunrise and sunset times for North Carolina are calculated using advanced solar algorithms (SunCalc) based on coordinates 35.6729639, -79.0392919. Times are mathematically accurate to ±30 seconds.
Historical Sunrise in North Carolina (Past Years)
Due to the Earth's precise orbit, solar times remain highly consistent year over year. Here is a comparison of today's sunrise and sunset times in North Carolina versus 1 year and 5 years ago:
| Year | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 6:41 AM | 8:00 PM | 13h 19m |
| 2025 | 6:41 AM | 8:00 PM | 13h 18m |
| 2021 | 6:41 AM | 8:00 PM | 13h 18m |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the sun rise in North Carolina today?
In North Carolina, the sun rises at exactly 6:41 AM and sets at 8:00 PM today. This gives the city a total of 13h 19m of daylight.
When is golden hour in North Carolina today?
Today, morning golden hour in North Carolina runs from N/A to 7:15 AM. Evening golden hour begins at 7:25 PM and lasts until 7:57 PM.
Why does sunrise in North Carolina shift every day?
At North Carolina's latitude, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 265.75° (W). Because of Earth's tilt, the city is just past its peak, losing daylight slowly until the Winter Solstice on December 21.
What is the UV Index in North Carolina at solar noon?
Solar noon occurs at 1:20 PM when the sun reaches 15.18. This produces a relatively low UV exposure day for North Carolina, typical of its Summer season.
Has the sunrise time in North Carolina changed compared to previous years?
Due to the Earth's precise orbit, solar times remain highly consistent year over year. Exactly one year ago in 2025, sunrise was at 6:41 AM, and five years ago in 2021, it was at 6:41 AM.