Waves of cold have swept through Chicago this winter, but the city is finally seeing a change as the sun sets after 5 p.m., marking a turn toward brighter evenings. According to CBS News Chicago, the days are slowly stretching out, and with spring looming, inhabitants are welcoming the extended daylight.

For those already planning for Valentine's Day, the sunset will linger until 5:21 p.m., providing just a little more time for romantic strolls on February 14. NBC 5 Meteorologist Alicia Roman delineated this seasonal progression, noting the approach of daylight saving time when the clocks will leap forward on March 10, "The last 7 p.m. sunset will occur this weekend," Roman said, signaling that lengthy evenings are soon to return. Residents have observed the gradual creep of darkness since the last 7 p.m. sunset back in September 2023. NBC Chicago reported that by the end of November, the city was cloaked in night as early as 4:30 p.m. due to the time adjustment.

With daylight saving time in effect until the first Sunday in November, Chicagoans will see the sunset stretch closer to 9 p.m. at its zenith. As the city thaws, landmarks like Grant Park and the shores of Lake Michigan will bathe in sunlight well into the evening. "After the autumnal equinox, days become shorter than nights as the Sun continues to rise later and nightfall arrives earlier," NBC Chicago explains, framing the cyclical nature of our celestial experiences. It's a cycle that will start shrinking daylight again post-summer until another turning point is reached.