Summer Solstice 2012 NY: Start of Summer Brings Heatwaves to America

The summer season officially starts today with the sun due to arrive at its northernmost point in the sky later today. The summer season will officially begin in the Northern Hemisphere while the Southern Hemisphere will start the beginning of winter.

The northern summer solstice is set to occur at 7:09 p.m. EDT. At that time the sun will stop its northward motion and start heading south.

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Not only is today the longest day of the year, but it will also be one of the hottest, as the heatwave across Northeast America starts. From today, the days will start to get a tad big shorter each day until we reach the winter solstice in December.

You may think that the earth is closest to the sun during summer but in the summer season in the Northern Hemisphere, our planet is actually swinging away from the sun. In fact, on July 4, at 10 p.m. ET, the earth will reach its "aphelion", a point in the orbit where it is farthest from the sun.

Americans will be facing some very high temperatures for this year's solstice. Today's heatwave may even break records, reaching up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.