Timed almost perfectly for what’s expected to be our first heat wave of the year, the official start of summer is approaching on Thursday, June 20, 2024, as the summer solstice occurs at 4:50 p.m. Eastern time. The solstice marks the first day of summer here in New Jersey and the rest of the northern hemisphere, and it will be the longest day of the year in terms of daylight — because the North Pole will be tilted at its maximum direction toward the sun. On June 20, we will see exactly 15 hours, 5 minutes and 38 seconds of daylight in the New York City area, 15 hours, 4 minutes and 18 seconds …