Portland sees first 8 p.m. sunset of the year Wednesday

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Later sunsets, warmer temperatures and drier skies are all signs that the spring season is here to stay in the Pacific Northwest.

Wednesday's sunset will be the first 8 p.m. hour sunset seen in Portland so far this year. Sunsets will continue to get later in the evening as the summer solstice approaches. By June 20, the latest sunset time of the year will fall at 9:03 p.m.

Portland's latest sunset of 9:03 p.m. will remain unchanged through the end of June. That's when sunset times will slowly become earlier as the fall equinox approaches.

This late sunset coincides with Portland's latest warming trend. Afternoon highs will go from the mid-60s Wednesday to the low to mid-70s by the end of the week. The latest sunset times and warmer temperatures will make it feel that much more like the spring season in Portland this week.