Low sun

[JohnToo]

We all know the dangers of blinding low sun on the roads. I had a couple of experiences this week when it really wasn’t safe. But I fell to thinking: I would assume that the height of the sun is symmetrical about the winter solstice. I don’t remember equivalent low sun in November. Is my memory defective, is it to do with other aspects of the weather, or is my belief in symmetry misplaced?

(I do realise, btw, that this is not the most pressing question facing this country...)

[Iris]

In order to be affected by low sun you need to be able to see it. My best guess would be that late November was cloudier than this last week has been. I'd also guess that that's not unusual - November is probably warmer and damper than January, which would encourage cloud formation.

It could also be that in November you were travelling either later or earlier in the day for reasons the rest of us can only guess at.

[Joan]

I think it's symmetrical. [mentioaan]Iris[/mention]'s explanation is probably correct

(not sure what happened to this post originally)

[LowlifeDes]

It will be symmetrical but not about the solstice. The earliest sunset occurs a couple of weeks before the solstice, and the latest sunrise a couple of weeks later. The solstice being the net shortest day.
If the low sun instances all occurred in the morning, that would be more likely in January than November.

[LowlifeDes]

It will be symmetrical but not about the solstice. The earliest sunset occurs a couple of weeks before the solstice, and the latest sunrise a couple of weeks later. The solstice being the net shortest day. Morning will be symmetrical about a date at the beginning of January, and evening about one in the second week of December.
If the low sun instances all occurred in the morning, that would be more likely in January than November.