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What is the vernal equinox? The science behind the astronomical seasons explained
The vernal equinox marks the beginning of astronomical spring and occurs in the Northern Hemisphere around March 20th, whereas the autumnal equinox falls around September 22nd.
The vernal equinox is Friday, marking the beginning of spring for the Northern Hemisphere and the start of fall in the Southern Hemisphere.
In the U.S., that means earlier sunrises and later sunsets until the summer solstice in June. In some parts of the U.S., near record-breaking heat has left many wondering if we skipped spring and went straight into summer.
Here’s what to know about the spring equinox:
When is the spring equinox 2026?
Timeline:
In 2026, the spring equinox, also known as the vernal equinox, will take place on March 20, at 7:46 a.m. Eastern time.
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What is the spring equinox?
The backstory:
The word equinox comes from two Latin words meaning equal and night. That’s because on the equinox, day and night last almost the same amount of time — though one may get a few extra minutes.
FILE: The sun shines directly through the door of the Seven Dolls Temple, in the Maya Ruins of Dzibilchaltun, in the Mexican state of Yucatan, as it rises on the spring equinox on March 20, 2017. (Photo by ELIZABETH RUIZ / AFP) (Photo by ELIZABETH RU …
The Earth moves around the sun at an angle, and for most of the year, its axis is tilted either away from or toward the sun. That means the northern and southern hemispheres get unequal amounts of sunlight – except during the equinox.
During the equinox, the Earth’s axis and its orbit line up, and both hemispheres get roughly an equal amount of sunlight. This will last for several days before and after the equinox, according to FOX Weather.
Astronomical spring vs. meteorological spring
Dig deeper:
There are two dates each year that mark the beginning of spring. Meteorological spring began March 1, while astronomical spring begins March 20.
Meteorological seasons are defined by the weather. They’re divided into three-month seasons based on yearly temperature cycles. Meteorological spring ends May 31.
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Astronomical seasons depend on how the Earth orbits the sun.
Equinoxes, when the sun lands equally on both hemispheres, mark the start of spring and autumn. Solstices, when the Earth sees its strongest tilt toward or away from the sun, kick off summer and winter.
Spring 2026 weather outlook
According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the spring forecast calls for warmer-than-average temperatures across most of the United States, though several areas—including parts of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and portions of Montana and Colorado—are expected to experience near- or below-average conditions.
The Source: This article includes information from FOX Weather and previous FOX Local reporting. FOX’s Catherine Stoddard and Chris Williams contributed.