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Where I live, I consider it mid-January to mid-February. It doesn't have as much to do with daylight hours to me as it does the temps and chances of snow.
I live in TN (near Nashville) and snow is most common later than the temperature actually bottoms out. Daylight hours are lowest in December, temperatures are lowest in January, and snow is most likely in January and February. March has more snow than December.
I would consider it in the range of +21 to +31 days after Winter Solstice in each respective Hemisphere to compensate for the seasonal latency aspect.
Jan 11 - Jan 21 in N H
Jul 12 - Jul 22 in S H
There still may be colder days in various climates but I'm using the 'dead of winter' phraseology to be akin to "dead on" as in when most geographic regions in either hemisphere will experience their likely average coldest stretches.
To the prior poster who said January 13th ... especially if its a Friday!
According to historical records, the coldest average day usually falls in the week containing January 26; add two weeks onto that in each direction, sand you have a period from January 1 to February 9.
Probably early January, even if it's not always the coldest period. Some winters have seen snow as early as November and as late as March, but nothing in January.
That said I generally think December is worse than January because of the shorter days and the almost perpetually damp / humid atmosphere, which is a bit less common in January. By January you also get the relief of sunsets getting later again, and that makes a difference already.
According to historical records, the coldest average day usually falls in the week containing January 26; add two weeks onto that in each direction, sand you have a period from January 1 to February 9.
That's why I always save a week of carryover vacation for this time period. Nothing like a Caribbean beach trip in Feb each year!
We seem to have the most running-away-from-winter tourists in February and March, but maybe it took them several weeks from the time they decided they had to run away before they got here?
December and January, those are the months when it is dark before 5pm here..
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