Offically It's The Last Day Of Winter Today

[albaqwerty]

dunno how they work that out, does that mean there will be no snow until winter starts again?

☺

[diddlydo]

Who says it's the last day of winter? I've always understood winter to end and spring to start at the vernal equinox which is 22/23 March?

[albaqwerty]

just heard it mentioned on the radio when they were chatting about the weather forecast.

[Quizmonster]

In scientific terms, Diddlydo's answer is correct. However, here's what The Oxford English Dictionary adds...
"in popular use, comprising the months of December, January and February."
The same sort of dichotomy occurs in any definition of Midsummer's Day.

[joggerjayne]

Last day of Winter ????

But what about all the skiing still to come?

:0/

[albaqwerty]

I must admit, I thought it a bit strange plus 'they' never said who said it's officially the last day of winter

(if that makes any sense)
I would have thought that 'they' could have/should have said, according to 'whoever', it's the last official day of winter'

[joggerjayne]

I'm imagining some officious Swiss official standing at the bottom of the ski lift, saying ...

I am sorry madame, there eez no more winter sports, because now it eez the spring.

[albaqwerty]

exactly :-(

[WELSHYORKIE]

I always understood that I was born on the last day of Winter - March 20 on the vernal equinox see this

http://www.almanac.com/content/first-day-spring-vernal-equinox

[albaqwerty]

I think the radio lass made a boo-boo, it's not been mentioned since!
I reckon she got her info from here
http://news.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978115918

and as we don't live in Colorado.....

[lady-janine]

does that mean it will be warm, sunny and dry from now on?

[albaqwerty]

a nice thought LJ x
Although JJ will still need some snow :-)

[brenda]

I always thought I was born on the first day of Spring 21st March. Am confused now. Have I been living a lie?

[Old_Geezer]

Officially its not. The equinox will be about the 20th next month if memory serves. But some organisations feel it is easier for them to try to convince folk to move it to a point the artificial man made different length months time markers we use instead.

[albaqwerty]

nah, Brenda, I reckon you and Welshy are both safe :-)

I still think it originated from the USA which explains a lot...

[Old_Geezer]

Looks like the Oxford dictionary is suspect. The attempt to move and lie isn't popular with me anyhow. Popular with the weather forecast industry maybe.

[heathfield]

Snowfall in June is not unknown.

[jomifl]

Next winter starts tomorrow.

[redman41]

Thought it was March 19th this Year

[roopower]

Shefali who does the weather on Central, mentioned a couple of weeks ago that , as far as weather forecasters go, winter is December, January and February.

[Jonathan-Joe]

The Met Office's definition of seasons - http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/learn-about-the-weather/how-weather-works/when-does-spring-start