Warmer weather is straight ahead as each day grows minutes longer. While Old Man Winter certainly has more tricks up his sleeves this month, millions of Americans are already looking ahead to milder weather. While some New Yorkers are still relishing in this winter’s snow-filled season, spring can’t come fast enough for others.
Here is what to know about the start of spring in New York.
When is the first day of spring 2026?
Friday, March 20, the date of the spring equinox, marks the first day of spring in the United States. The spring equinox lands at 10:46 a.m., the precise moment the sun’s rays shine directly on the equator.
Meteorologists actually consider March 1 the beginning of spring. Meteorological spring is considered to encompass the months of March, April and May. The other meteorological seasons each also consist of three consecutive months, according to AccuWeather.
When does spring 2026 end?
Spring will end with the start of summer, which in 2026 lands on June 21. Spring lasts for three months and include parts of March, all of April and May and part of June.
What is the spring equinox?
The spring equinox, also known as vernal equinox, marks the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. It occurs when the sun is directly above the equator, resulting in nearly equal daylight and night hours.
Spring equinox falls annually within a two-day period between March 20 and 21. Spring equinox marks the moment when the planet is halfway between the summer and winter solstices.
It is also one of two days of the year – the other is the day of the autumnal equinox in September – when the Earth’s axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun, resulting in roughly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness almost everywhere on the planet.
What will spring weather look like in New York?
Expect warmer-than-normal weather this spring.
The National Weather Service’s seasonal outlook for March and April says that New York has equal chances to see normal spring temperatures, but part of the state is more likely to receive above-average precipitation. The eastern part of the Empire State, including New York City, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley, has equal chances to see normal precipitation.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac updated its spring outlook in late January. According to the almanac, New York may see warm and dry weather conditions. New York – which has portions of the state within four of 18 regions nationwide – is predicting warmer than average temperatures this spring, particularly in May, and below normal rainfall.
According to Farmers’ Almanac’s spring outlook forecast, cooler temperatures are expected to linger from late March through mid-April across much of the northeastern United States, including New York. The northeast is predicted to see “cool, soggy” weather.
What are the dates for all four seasons in 2026?
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: When is the first day of spring 2026? Here’s the date and weather outlook
Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
