Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Meteorology Department (QMD) has announced that this year, astronomical winter will commence on December 21, coinciding with the Winter Solstice. This significant day marks not only the end of autumn but also the beginning of winter, as defined by the astronomical calendar.

The shift in seasons is attributed to the Earth's 23.5° tilt on its rotational axis during its orbit around the sun, resulting in the sun becoming perpendicular to the Tropic of Capricorn. The Winter Solstice is notable for being the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, where regions within the Arctic Circle experience no sunrise or sunset.

In today's weather update, QMD reported that the Abu Samra station recorded the lowest temperature this morning at 7°C, while the capital city of Doha saw temperatures around 15°C.