First Day of Spring

[jimvb]

Today is the first day of spring, as far as the weather goes. It is the day that is one quarter of the way from the middle of winter (about January 20) to the middle of summer (July 22). At this point temperatures should be getting perceptively warmer.

On March 21, we reach the middle of solar spring, which started in early February. Now the days will be longer than the nights, until early May, when we reach solar summer.

It is the Marine Winter Solstice. This is the day in which waters are the coldest. Waters have been cooling in the Atlantic and Gulf since last September. Now they are going to get warmer again as we approach hurricane season and Marine Summer Solstice, September 10, the height of the hurricane season. Also, most of the bodies of water in the northern US and Canada are frozen now. Lake Erie is frozen, and there is considerable ice on the rest of the Great Lakes. Now that will all start to melt. That's been happening earlier every year for some time - hope the polar bears can make the sea ice.

[MississippiHurricane]

Thanks for the info....LOL I even learned some stuff too.

[NDG]

On March 21, we reach the middle of solar spring, which started in early February. Now the days will be longer than the nights, until early May, when we reach solar summer.

Days will be longer than nights all the way close to Sept 21st!

[AnnularCane]

Couple of questions: What is solar spring? And what time does spring begin this year (Central time)?

[JonathanBelles]

So is my calendar wrong? or is it just meteorological spring?

[Scott Patterson]

So is my calendar wrong? or is it just meteorological spring?

For those interested, here are the definitions:

Meteorogical Spring = March 1 through May 31.

The National Weather Service uses this one. For example, if you see the "average Spring temperature" reported in a book, almanac, or weather data base, they are actually using data from March 1-May 31, not the calendar Spring.

Climatological Spring = The coldest average 91 days of the year in a location are the climatological winter. The warmest 91 are the climatological summer. Spring is between the two. I assume this is what jimvb is refering to as "weather spring". It is actually the most accurate definition, but isn't used much because it varies from location to location. Therefore, the Metorogical Spring is the one used for climate records including by the US government.

Astronomical Spring = Same as Calander Spring and what is on your calander.

I assume the solar spring, would be 45 days on either side of the equinox, but I'm not familiar with the term.

[jasons2k]

Yeah, there are all kinds of definitions. When discussing meteorology, I usually refer to spring in terms of March 1 - May 31st. But to be REAL technical, the first day of Spring is the date of the last freeze or killing frost; Spring begins when the growing season begins which, like the climatological spring, it varies by location.

FWIW I'd consider March 10th, the original date of the first poster, the least used date to designate Spring.

[Scott Patterson]

I usually refer to spring in terms of March 1 - May 31st. But to be REAL technical, the first day of Spring is the date of the last freeze or killing frost; Spring begins when the growing season begins which, like the climatological spring, it varies by location.

That's an interesting definition, but I'm curious how it would work. Our last killing frost is usually in Mid June. If spring doesn't start until mid-june, when would summer begin? Would it just be say June 13-June 20? What happens if our last frost is in July, which occasionally happens? When would spring end and summer begin?

[jasons2k]

I guess there is no summer in the Mtns.

[JonathanBelles]

I usually refer to spring in terms of March 1 - May 31st. But to be REAL technical, the first day of Spring is the date of the last freeze or killing frost; Spring begins when the growing season begins which, like the climatological spring, it varies by location.

That's an interesting definition, but I'm curious how it would work. Our last killing frost is usually in Mid June. If spring doesn't start until mid-june, when would summer begin? Would it just be say June 13-June 20? What happens if our last frost is in July, which occasionally happens? When would spring end and summer begin?

and also, florida doesnt freeze (at least down here,) when dooes spring begin here?

[Scott Patterson]

I guess there is no summer in the Mtns.

It does get close to 100 here in summer (but nothing like Texas), but it's almost always cool at night.

[jasons2k]

I usually refer to spring in terms of March 1 - May 31st. But to be REAL technical, the first day of Spring is the date of the last freeze or killing frost; Spring begins when the growing season begins which, like the climatological spring, it varies by location.

That's an interesting definition, but I'm curious how it would work. Our last killing frost is usually in Mid June. If spring doesn't start until mid-june, when would summer begin? Would it just be say June 13-June 20? What happens if our last frost is in July, which occasionally happens? When would spring end and summer begin?

and also, florida doesnt freeze (at least down here,) when dooes spring begin here?

In a climate where the growing season is 365 days a year, there isn't the traditional hemispheric 4 seasons. Some would argue that South Florida technically only has two seasons - wet & dry.

[senorpepr]

Woohoo! We actually broke a record high temperature today. Our old record was 74°F, but today we topped off at 80°F.

It was beautiful... albeit the four-hour power outage. Thankfully it was nice enough that I had the windows open anyway. I'm just thankful it wasn't a normal March day around here.