eli5: why isn’t the summer Solstice the hottest day of the year?

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It is the longest day, so it gets the most sunshine, why is it hotter latter in the summer when the days are getting shorter again???

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Anonymous 0 Comments

In a word: water.

It takes time for bodies of water to heat up. It starts happening before the first day of summer but it continues well beyond the first day of summer. Once they warm up those bodies of water stay warm and along with wind keep the surrounding air warm.

As the days get shorter in the fall the bodies of water slowly cool off.

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