**** Info via Environment Canada
Did you know that each season has both an astronomical start and a meteorological start?
It sounds 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 date is based on the 12-month calendar and the annual temperature cycle.
The First Days of the Seasons
| Seasons of 2020 | Astronomical Start | Meteorological Start |
| SPRING | March 19, 11:50 P.M. EDT |
March 1 |
| SUMMER | June 20, 5:44 P.M. EDT |
June 1 |
| FALL | September 22, 9:31 A.M. EDT |
September 1 |
| WINTER | December 21, 5:02 A.M. EST |
December 1 |
| Seasons of 2021 | Astronomical Start | Meteorological Start |
| SPRING | March 20, 5:37 A.M. EDT |
March 1 |
| SUMMER | June 20, 11:32 P.M. EDT |
June 1 |
| FALL | September 22, 3:20 P.M. EDT |
September 1 |
| WINTER | December 21, 10:58 A.M. EST |
December 1 |
September 22, 2020 marks the arrival of the astronomical fall equinox in Canada. The equinox is the exact moment in time when the Sun stands directly above the equator – the imaginary line around the Earth halfway between the poles – while crossing from south to north.
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.
To mark this change of season, let’s have a look at some of the more notable events that occurred in Canada this summer:
- Summer 2020 was dry in the Atlantic Provinces, southern interior of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and, Nunavut: and wet on the Pacific Coast, northern British Columbia, Alberta and the Prairies, and, central Quebec.
- The Atlantic was extremely dry, if not record dry. Summer 2020 was the driest in 105 years in Woodstock, NB, and the 2nd driest in 130 years in Fredericton, NB and in Yarmouth, NS.
- In contrast, the Pacific Coast has been very wet, with Prince Rupert having its 2nd wettest summer in 110 years, and Smithers having its 10th wettest summer in 100 years.
- Overall, temperatures have been warm in eastern Canada and cool in British Columbia and Yukon. They were extremely warm, even record warm, in the Atlantic, southern Quebec and Nunavut. Halifax, NS had its warmest summer in 150 years (tied with 2018 and 2013), Montreal, QC its 3rd warmest and Fredericton, NB its 4th warmest summer in 150 years.
