To think it's not getting as dark as it normally does by 6pm this time of year?

[adrianmolesmole]

It's 6pm and the sky looks like this (pic).

I remember it's usually pitch black by 4pm this time of year. AIBU to think it's odd?

@TrampolineForMrKite

I thought this tonight in south London. I have had a ping though.

You've had a what?

Pint maybe?

Seems perfectly normal to me. Just getting dark here at 6.15 so when clocks change about 5.

It's never dark at 4pm in October. Clocks go back this weekend though which will mean it's dark at 5.30 ish here!

I'm in London too! Perhaps we're just lucky! I hadn't thought of the clocks going back, no doubt it'll be pitch black this time on Monday :(

I think that if the Earth’s tilt on its axis had changed, it might have appeared on the news somewhere, and we might have noticed the immense asteroid collision that causes it!

I’ve noticed that too! Also, the leaves are still mostly green - usually by this time of year they’re a lovely autumnal colour (or on the ground)

I am in London too and have noticed exactly this several times recently and wondered about it.

I'm in Scotland and it's pitch black here, I had to put the lights on half an hour ago.

@TheReluctantPhoenix

I think that if the Earth’s tilt on its axis had changed, it might have appeared on the news somewhere, and we might have noticed the immense asteroid collision that causes it!

Oooh, that was what that bang was!

The clocks haven’t gone back yet, you do-nut

@CommonRoom

I’ve noticed that too! Also, the leaves are still mostly green - usually by this time of year they’re a lovely autumnal colour (or on the ground)

I am in London too and have noticed exactly this several times recently and wondered about it.

You’d need to look at rainfall, temperatures and high winds (or lack of) to find the reason for that.

As others have said the Earth’s tilt and rate of rotation hasn’t changed noticeably in the last year so sunset is all normal, though the late clock change may have altered perceptions.

@Anonymous48

Pitch black by 4pm in October, before the clocks go back? Where do you live - the arctic?

😂

@TheReluctantPhoenix

I think that if the Earth’s tilt on its axis had changed, it might have appeared on the news somewhere, and we might have noticed the immense asteroid collision that causes it!

That would explain A LOT, tbh.

It was pitch black here in Somerset by 6 pm today. It's not dark at 4 until early December/end nov normally.

6.30 now and its pitch black outside. Clocks go back on Saturday so that will make a difference.

I knew mumsnet was famed for exaggeration but this really takes the biscuit.

BTW it's also a late autumn because it was a late spring, weather-wise. Temperatures due to drop next week and all the leaves will follow suit.

I've been thinking the same !

I think it's the chemtrails.

Last year the clocks went back on the 25th, the earliest possible date for the last Sunday in October. This year, it's the latest possible date, the 31st, so it's nearly a week later this year. So it will be lighter now than the same date and time last year.

@Timetable99

I knew mumsnet was famed for exaggeration but this really takes the biscuit.

BTW it's also a late autumn because it was a late spring, weather-wise. Temperatures due to drop next week and all the leaves will follow suit.

Yes, I took these two photos on the same day in May, top one last year, bottom one this year. You can see how much later the leaves were this spring compared to last.

It's dark by half 6 here in west Yorkshire.

I know what you mean, I am concerned that we may be spiralling in towards the sun and this bl**dy Government is keeping quite about it.🤐

It's certainly not as cold as it normally is at this time of year - I haven't even got my Damart vest out of the Ottoman yet. 🥵

My friend, Norris, says it's all to do with Brexit, I think he may be right. 🤔

I think it's lighter than usual but it seems to be because of better weather? Less cloud cover makes it seem lighter and it's definitely lighter than when it's all grey clouds and rain!

But yes it's usually not until later in year it's dark at 4pm.

Honest to god I find this quite scary. It is just not possible for it to be lighter or darker at any given time of year than the year before, we are a planet orbiting the sun...

The temperature and cloud cover can vary massively but not the actual times of sunset and sunrise.

@adrianmolesmole

YABU. It's the same as usual. If it does looks a tad lighter than you expected it could be because it's been a lovely sunny day. It always seems to look darker earlier when it's been a grumpy day.

Also, it depends where you live. EG, in the far reaches of Cornwall tomorrow, sunset is not til nearly 6.10pm, but in Birmingham, it's nearly 25 minutes earlier at 5.47pm. In Orkney. it's just after 5.30pm. 40 minutes earlier than Cornwall! So some parts of the country will get darker earlier than others.

Wherever you live in the UK though, it won't be 'pitch black' at 6pm. When the clocks have gone back yes, but not yet.