**** Info via Environment Canada
Spring equinox
The arrival of the spring equinox on March 20 marks the beginning of the astronomical spring, and we look forward to warmer temperatures, longer days, and the emergence of greenery and blossoms. While the exact timing of the astronomical spring’s arrival can vary depending on where we are in Canada, many regions have started to see signs of it.
Credit: Mario Ouellet, meteorologist.
The March equinox marks the exact moment when the Sun is located directly above the equator.
The word “equinox” comes from Latin and means “equal night”. On the equinox, day and night are of approximately equal length all over the world.
Even though astronomical spring has sprung, this date is NOT meteorologically relevant since meteorologists celebrate the start of spring on March 1st. So, each season has both an astronomical start and a meteorological start. It may sound complicated, but it’s not!
The astronomical start date is based on the position of the Sun in relation to the Earth, while the meteorological start is simply a date we have picked for statistical reasons, based on the 12-month calendar and the annual temperature cycle.
While the weather can still be unpredictable at this time of year, with occasional snowstorms and cold snaps, the spring equinox serves as a reminder that warmer days are on the horizon!
In case you missed it, here is our spring temperature outlook:
Temperature outlook valid until the end of May. The white on the map means that trends are still uncertain, as no clear signal has been detected in regard to upcoming temperatures.
