The June solstice marks the beginning of astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
At the June solstice, Earth’s North Pole is tilted most toward the Sun. The Sun reaches its northernmost apparent position in the sky, directly over the Tropic of Cancer. This produces the year’s longest daylight period north of the Arctic Circle and the shortest daylight period in the Southern Hemisphere.
The event usually occurs on June 20 or June 21, though the exact date and time vary by year and time zone. It is called the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. The word solstice comes from Latin roots meaning “Sun standing still,” referring to the apparent pause in the Sun’s changing noon position.
The solstice is not necessarily the hottest day of the year. Seasonal temperatures usually peak later because land and oceans take time to warm.