When does spring start in 2023? What to know 🌷

Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer
·2 min read

We get it. After a taste of warm weather this week, you're ready to store away your winter clothes and welcome in the longer, warmer days of spring.

If this year's Groundhog Day display left you confused about when the season starts, you can always look to the stars.

The spring equinox, which is the astronomical start of spring and considered the "official" beginning of the season, is less than one month away. If you're really in a rush, don't fret: the meteorological start of the season is even closer.

Here's what to know about the spring equinox and the start of spring.

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The official start of spring is observed on the spring equinox, which, this year, will land on March 20.
The official start of spring is observed on the spring equinox, which, this year, will land on March 20.

When is the spring equinox in 2023?

The spring equinox is March 20, 2023, at 5:24 p.m., according to the Almanac. This marks the astronomical first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

What is the spring equinox, and why is it March 20?

The spring equinox, which is also called the March equinox or the vernal equinox, happens when the sun crosses the celestial equator – an imaginary line in the sky above the Earth's equator – going south to north. Days become longer with increasing hours of sunlight after this because the Northern Hemisphere is tilted more toward the sun.

What does equinox mean?

On an equinox, the length of the day and night is almost equal across the globe, the Almanac website states. The word "equinox" stems from the Latin phrase for "equal night," which is aequus nox.

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When does meteorological spring start?

The meteorological start of spring is March 1, and the end is May 31. Meteorological seasons are defined by annual temperature cycles rather than the position of the sun, and are used by weather scientists for comparing seasonal and monthly statistics.

When does daylight saving time start in 2023?

Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 12, and ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 5. We will lose an hour of sleep on March 12 when we "spring forward" and set clocks one hour ahead.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: When is the first day of spring 2023? Dates to know for this year