- The first day of spring is Thursday.
- The spring equinox will occur at 5:01 a.m. EST on Thursday.
- An equinox occurs when the Earth’s equator aligns with the sun, resulting in a “nearly” equal amount of daylight and darkness at all latitudes.
April showers bring May flowers − or so they say.
Springtime is right around the corner, as the first day of the season is on Thursday. The first day of spring represents the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, an astronomical event that occurs when the sun aligns with the Earth’s equator.
On the contrary, in the Southern Hemisphere, the upcoming equinox is known as the autumnal equinox, as it represents the start of fall. During this time, the Southern Hemisphere begins to tilt away from the sun, resulting in cooler weather and shorter days.
Here’s what to know about the springtime season in the Northern Hemisphere.
When is the first day of spring?
This year, the first day of spring is Thursday, March 20.
What is the exact time of the spring equinox?
The spring equinox occurs at 5:01 a.m. EST on Thursday, March 20, according to the National Weather Service.
Look up: As spring equinox nears, look for the northern lights. Here’s why.
What is a vernal equinox?
A vernal equinox is known as the start of the spring season in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are only two times during the year when the Earth’s equator is not tilted toward or away from the sun, resulting in a “nearly” equal amount of daylight and darkness across all latitudes, according to the National Weather Service. These events are known as equinoxes.
The equinox that occurs during the Northern Hemisphere’s spring is called a vernal equinox, while the event that occurs during the Northern Hemisphere’s fall is called an autumnal equinox.
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Why are days longer during the spring than winter?
During spring, days are longer in the Northern Hemisphere because the region is continuing to move toward its greatest tilt toward the sun, which occurs during the summer solstice.
When is the summer solstice in 2025?
The summer solstice, the astronomical event that will occur next, is on Friday, June 20 at 10:41 p.m. EST. The summer solstice marks the longest daylight hours of the year and the start of the summer season.
When was daylight saving time?
For millions of Americans, clocks sprung forward as daylight saving time began on Sunday, March 9.
Contributing: Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].
