Today in Washington, USA, the sun rises at 2:50 AM and sets at 5:37 PM, giving the city exactly 14h 47m of daylight. That is 1 minutes shorter than yesterday—just past its peak, losing daylight slowly. With 168 days until the Winter Solstice on December 21, Washington is currently in its Summer season.
Golden Hour & Twilight Windows in Washington
For photographers, filmmakers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the morning golden hour in Washington runs from N/A to 3:29 AM. The evening golden hour begins at 4:58 PM and lasts until 5:37 PM.
Civil twilight—when there is still sufficient ambient light to see clearly outdoors—begins at N/A. Washington sits in the subtropics, where the annual swing in daylight is moderate.
Solar Noon & UV Index
Solar noon in Washington falls exactly at 10:13 AM, which is the moment the sun reaches its peak altitude of 22.84 above the horizon. At this specific time, the solar angle produces a relatively low UV exposure day for Washington, typical of its Summer season.
Why Does Sunrise Shift in Washington?
At Washington's latitude of 38.8950982°, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 258.56° (WSW). Because of the Earth's axial tilt, this position shifts slightly every day. Sunrise and sunset times for Washington are calculated using advanced solar algorithms (SunCalc) based on coordinates 38.8950982, -77.0363849. Times are mathematically accurate to ±30 seconds.
Historical Sunrise in Washington (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 Washington versus 1 year and 5 years ago:
| Year | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 2:50 AM | 5:37 PM | 14h 47m |
| 2025 | 2:50 AM | 5:37 PM | 14h 47m |
| 2021 | 2:50 AM | 5:37 PM | 14h 47m |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the sun rise in Washington today?
In Washington, the sun rises at exactly 2:50 AM and sets at 5:37 PM today. This gives the city a total of 14h 47m of daylight.
When is golden hour in Washington today?
Today, morning golden hour in Washington runs from N/A to 3:29 AM. Evening golden hour begins at 4:58 PM and lasts until 5:34 PM.
Why does sunrise in Washington shift every day?
At Washington's latitude, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 258.56° (WSW). 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 Washington at solar noon?
Solar noon occurs at 10:13 AM when the sun reaches 22.84. This produces a relatively low UV exposure day for Washington, typical of its Summer season.
Has the sunrise time in Washington 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 2:50 AM, and five years ago in 2021, it was at 2:50 AM.