When Do The Four Seasons Start And End
To understand season dates, you must first understand the two different systems used to measure them: astronomical and meteorological. 1. Astronomical Seasons (Based on Earth's Orbit)
Starts December 1 and ends February 28 (or February 29 in a leap year).
There are two primary methods used to define the start and end of seasons:
Before we dive into the specific dates, let's quickly review the four seasons: when do the four seasons start and end
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The summer solstice is the longest day of the year. The North Pole is tilted maximally toward the sun. While many consider this "mid-summer," astronomically, it marks the beginning of summer. Day length slowly decreases after this point.
These are defined by equinoxes and solstices. They usually fall around the 20th–22nd of the month. March 20 – June 20 (Spring Equinox) Summer: June 21 – September 21 (Summer Solstice) Autumn: September 22 – December 20 (Fall Equinox) Winter: December 21 – March 19 (Winter Solstice) 🌡️ Meteorological Seasons To understand season dates, you must first understand
This is the warmest season. Even though the solstice marks the peak of solar radiation, the hottest months are typically July and August due to "seasonal lag"—the time it takes for Earth’s oceans and landmasses to heat up. Autumn (Fall)
Starts December 1 and ends February 28 (or 29).
Because the Earth is tilted on its axis, the Northern and Southern Hemispheres experience opposite seasons at the exact same time. When the North poles tilt toward the sun, the South tilts away. The Southern Hemisphere includes Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica, southern Africa, and most of South America. There are two primary methods used to define
Both are useful: astronomical seasons describe solar geometry and day-length changes; meteorological seasons simplify climate records and forecasting.
Meteorologists (weather scientists) divide the year into four neat seasons made up of three full months each. This makes calculating weather statistics and averages much easier.
September, October, and November represent the transition from summer heat to winter cold. September 1 is the logical start of the cooling trend.
September 1 to November 30 (Transition period of cooling temperatures)