Northern Hemisphere

The summer solstice will begin on Sunday at 4:24 a.m. EST in New York City, marking the first day of astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere. The event is cited by the Old Farmers' Almanac as the official start of the season.

Sunday marks the summer solstice, the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere and the start of astronomical summer, while the Southern Hemisphere experiences its shortest day and the beginning of winter. The solstice occurs as Earth's tilt causes extreme sunlight distribution, with the sun reaching its highest arc before retreating. Cultural events like Sweden's midsummer and Stonehenge's alignments highlight historical significance.

The article highlights Iceland's midnight sun hikes and New Zealand's ski slopes as top summer destinations for those avoiding heat. These locations offer cool alternatives as the Northern Hemisphere experiences high temperatures.

A timelapse shows the start of the 'midnight sun' season in Alaska, a phenomenon where the sun remains visible at midnight. This occurs during the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. The 'midnight sun' is a unique experience in Alaska.

Climate change is contributing to longer and more severe pollen seasons across the Northern Hemisphere, affecting millions of Americans with seasonal allergies. About a quarter of US adults and 1 in 5 children have seasonal allergies, experiencing symptoms ranging from mild to serious medical emergencies. Climate change is making allergies worse, according to Dr. Neelima Tummala, an ear, nose, and throat doctor at NYU Langone Health.

The Lyrid meteor shower is currently visible and will peak Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, with 10-20 shooting stars per hour expected. The dim crescent moon won't interfere, and the best viewing is in the Northern Hemisphere. The shower originates from debris left by comet Thatcher, visible annually as Earth passes through its trail.