Summer days feel hotter because sunlight strikes the ground at a steeper angle.

The longer version

When the sun rides higher in the sky, its rays strike the ground closer to a right angle. The same beam of light is then spread over a smaller patch of ground, concentrating its energy, and it also passes through less atmosphere on the way down.

Longer daylight adds to the effect by giving more hours of heating than of cooling. In winter the situation reverses: rays arrive at a slant that thins the energy out over a wider area, and the short days leave little time for warmth to build. Snow cover, by reflecting sunlight away, can hold temperatures down further.

Where this entry sits

Clouds, wind, rain, and storms shape daily life in ways that most people barely notice. This collection explains snow, lightning, rainbows, the turning seasons, temperature, the instruments forecasters rely on, and scraps of old weather lore. The full list sits on the Weather and Climate page, where every entry is listed in order.