Two in the afternoon is the hottest hour of the day for most of the year, which surprises people who expect the peak at noon. Air temperature keeps climbing after the sun passes its highest point, so in July and August the maximum lands between about two and four, and the pavements of a city of millions are empty.
It is the main school collection hour for older year groups and the second congestion peak of the day on the residential roads. Anyone running two schools with different finishing times measures this hour in minutes.
In offices it is the documented concentration dip, which makes a countdown to two o'clock as likely to be a prompt to take a break as a prompt to start something. The count resets daily and always targets the next 2 pm.
Common questions
Is 2 pm hotter than midday?
Usually yes. Air temperature keeps rising after the sun passes its highest point, so the daily maximum lands between roughly two and four in the afternoon.
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