Spring in the Northern Hemisphere usually starts on March 20 each year, marked by the spring (vernal) equinox.

Quick Scoop: When does spring start?

There are actually two common answers to “what day does spring start,” depending on which definition you use.

1. Astronomical spring (the equinox)

Most calendars and news outlets treat this as the “official” start of spring.

  • It starts on the spring (vernal) equinox , when day and night are almost equal in length.
  • In the Northern Hemisphere, this usually falls on March 19–21 , most often March 20.
  • In 2026 , for example, spring starts on Friday, March 20, 2026 , at about 10:46 a.m. EDT.

2. Meteorological spring (by the calendar)

Meteorologists use a simpler, temperature-based definition tied to whole months.

  • Meteorological spring in the Northern Hemisphere runs March 1 to May 31.
  • This is handy for climate statistics and forecasting, so weather services often talk about “spring” starting on March 1.

3. What about the Southern Hemisphere?

If you’re south of the equator, the pattern flips.

  • Astronomical spring starts around the September equinox (about September 22–23).
  • Meteorological spring is September 1 to November 30.

Simple rule of thumb

  • If you mean “official start of the season” → think spring equinox ≈ March 20 in the Northern Hemisphere.
  • If you’re talking like a weather nerd or using climate stats → March 1 as the start of spring (Northern Hemisphere).

Mini FAQ

Q: Why does the date move slightly each year?
Because Earth’s orbit isn’t a perfect circle and our calendar has leap years, the exact moment of the equinox shifts a bit, so spring can land on March 19, 20, or 21.

Q: How long does spring last?
Astronomically, it lasts from the spring equinox to the summer solstice, about 92–93 days in the Northern Hemisphere.

[3][1][7] [5] [7] [7][5]
Region Definition Day spring starts
Northern Hemisphere Astronomical (equinox) Around March 20
Northern Hemisphere Meteorological (weather) March 1
Southern Hemisphere Astronomical (equinox) Around September 22–23
Southern Hemisphere Meteorological (weather) September 1

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.