Ready for the longest day of the year? The summer solstice, which marks the official start of the summer season, is rapidly approaching. The summer solstice, also known as the June solstice, will occur at 10:42 p.

The summer solstice this year happens at 7:42 p.m. on Friday, June 20, in the Bay Area. Here’s what to know: In the Northern Hemisphere, it occurs when the North Pole attains its maximum tilt toward the sun. At that point the sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer, and summer officially begins.