The sun is lastly shining in London as we speak, after weeks of gray skies and rain.
The temperature within the capital is about to rise as excessive as 17C or 18C, hotter than cities similar to Barcelona and Malaga.
The top of winter is lastly in sight — however when does spring formally begin?
The spring equinox, also referred to as the vernal equinox, marks the astronomical begin of spring. It happens when the sun crosses the celestial equator — a notional extension of Earth’s precise equator — shifting northwards.
Right here’s every thing you’ll want to know in regards to the vernal (or spring) equinox.
Astronomical spring and meteorological spring fall on completely different days
When is the spring equinox 2026?
The spring equinox begins on Thursday, March 20, the primary day of astronomical spring. Meteorological spring falls on March 1.
The Met Workplace says astronomical seasons “consult with the place of Earth’s orbit in relation to the solar”. It says meteorological seasons are “based mostly on the annual temperature cycle”, to coincide with the calendar.
This yr, the spring equinox takes place within the northern hemisphere on March 20 at 2.46pm GMT.
The spring equinox all the time falls on certainly one of three days in the direction of the top of March.
Spring is almost right here
What’s the spring equinox?
An equinox is a phenomenon that happens twice a yr — as soon as throughout the spring equinox and as soon as throughout the autumn equinox. Within the northern hemisphere, the spring equinox sometimes falls round March 20, signalling the top of winter and the arrival of spring.
Conversely, the autumn equinox takes place round September 23, marking the transition from summer time to autumn.
An equinox occurs between the summer time and winter solstices when the solar is positioned straight above the equator earlier than crossing it.
Based on the Met Workplace, the spring equinox marks the start of astronomical spring —from this level onward, sunlight hours turn into longer than the evening. Conversely, the autumn equinox signifies the beginning of autumn, as nights start to outlast the times.
Throughout an equinox, day and evening are roughly equal in size.
Equinox comes from Latin, combining equi (which means equal) and nox (which means evening), reflecting the steadiness of daylight and darkness on at the present time.
