What date is the official beginning of the season of spring?

[flobadob]

I always thought it was the 1st of february but I've read that it was 1st of march and 20th/21st march. Does anyone know the correct start date?

[boxtops]

20 March is the Vernal Equinox

[Meg]

I think 21st March is the first day of spring.

[Bee35]

I recently heard 1st Feb on TV, but had never heard of that before as that would only be a few weeks after start of Winter (21st Dec), and seasons are 3 months long. Think all seasons change on/around 21st of the months March, June.Sept,Dec. :)

[MOUCHA]

July 15th this year - so be careful as it is St Swithun's Day too

[bibblebub]

spring begins with the vernal equinox despite what some weather forecasters say

[lardhelmet]

July 15th? Surely we'll be halfway through autumn by then?

[MOUCHA]

Exactly lardy!

[flobadob]

Yeah july is summer. My mate said it was 20/21 march but I reckon that's a bit late for the start of spring.

[lardhelmet]

At the rate we're going it will be 2021 before we have another decent summer!

[heathfield]

There are any number of criteria used to provide the start date for Spring - astronomical, temperature, insolation, horticultural, etc etc. All this results in there being a large number of ''correct'' start dates, and it all depends what you want to base it on.

[flobadob]

I thought this would have been answered by now.

[MOUCHA]

^ It has

[boxtops]

Spring is here, the first cruise liner has arrived, it must be Spring!

[tamborine]

15th.........beware the Ides of March - Julius Ceasar.

[flobadob]

MOUCHA how has it been answered the are three or four differing dates up above. Does anyone know for sure? Going by some of the answers above this is still winter.

[LoftyLottie]

I was taught it was 21st March. And this was never disputed years ago. Yet, it seems to have now changed to the 20th.

It is not officially 1st March, although it seems to have been adopted by a lot of folks.

It certainly doesn't feel like Spring yet!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk.../magazine/4767522.stm

[patricia53]

Definitely 21st March as I was born on the first day of Spring!

[LoftyLottie]

Just read that it's officially the night of 20/21 March - Vernal Equinox, which explains things.

[vulcan]

1st of march.
March,April,May-Spring.
June,July,August-Summer.
September,October,November-Autumn.
December,January,February-Winter.
This is what I was taught at school but that was many years ago,perhaps it's all changed.

[flobadob]

That's mad. I'm actually quite shocked at that. I always thought that the 20/21st dates were the middle of the seasons. Also I would have put money on february being the start of spring, darn it.