August still looks and feels like summer, but with each passing day, our nights are getting noticeably longer. The sun's intensity was at its strongest during the longest days of the year in late June and early July. Right now, the sun is as strong as it was in early May. Daylight hours are similar.

On Long Island, neighborhoods have already seen their last 8 p.m. hour sunset for the year. This week, the sun is setting before 8 p.m. in many towns for the first time since early May. The sunrise is already after 6 a.m. for areas in and west of New York City. Long Island will have it's first 6 a.m. hour sunrise this week.

We lose daylight right after the first day of summer in June, but the loss accelerates as we approach the equinox in September. For some perspective, Central Park lost about 41 minutes of daylight in July. In August, the park will lose about 1 hour and 11 minutes from the beginning of the month to the end. We lose the most daylight in September. This year's autumnal equinox falls on Sunday, Sept. 22.

Below is a list of dates for the first 6 a.m. sunrise of the summer for a few towns.

Below is a list of dates for the first 7 PM sunset of the summer for a few towns.

The sun will set before 7 p.m. in a month, by mid-September. The earliest sunset of the year is before 4:30 p.m. in late November through early December.