The spring equinox, also called the vernal equinox, marks the official start of spring in the northern hemisphere. It occurs when the sun shines directly on the equator, resulting in nearly equal hours of daylight and darkness.
This happens once a year, typically on March 20 or 21. On the equinox, the Earth’s axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun, placing the planet halfway between the winter and summer solstices. The autumnal equinox in September is the other day of the year with this balance of day and night.
When is the spring equinox in 2026?
In 2026, the spring equinox lands on Friday, March 20, at 10:46 a.m. ET. This moment marks the first day of astronomical spring. Meteorologists, however, consider March 1 the start of meteorological spring, which runs through the end of May. Meteorological seasons divide the year into three-month blocks:
When does spring end?
Astronomical spring ends with the summer solstice, which in 2026 occurs on Sunday, June 21.
What to expect for spring weather in New York
Weather forecasts for New York this spring vary:
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: When does spring start in 2026? Exact time for the spring equinox
Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
