Hello Spring! At Least For Some Areas of the U.S. - Others Will Deal With a Lingering Winter

With a harsh winter still playing out, many are likely wondering: when does Spring 2024 start? Meteorological spring is set to begin on March 1 across the U.S. with astronomical spring officially getting started on the equinox date of March 19.

What will the season look like this year in the specific regions? And will Punxsutawney Phil's prediction of an early season have residents saying hello spring soon? Here is what meteorologists are predicting this spring.

Meteorological Spring vs Astronomical Spring

While you may think that there's only one spring, there is a difference when it comes to meteorological spring vs astronomical spring. Meteorological spring is based on the calendar months and divides the year into four seasons of approximately three months each. In this system, meteorological spring begins on March 1st and ends on May 31st.

On the other hand, astronomical spring is based on the position of the Earth in relation to the Sun and begins with the vernal equinox, which usually occurs around March 20th or 21st in the Northern Hemisphere. Astronomical spring ends with the summer solstice, which falls around June 20th or 21st.