Spring only six weeks away

The countdown is on; we are exactly 6 weeks away from spring.

The first day of spring will be Friday, March 20. It’s marked by the vernal equinox. On this date, the sun shines directly on the equator and the hours of night and day are nearly equal. The official start to a season is based on the position of the earth in relation to the sun; however, a meteorological season is based on the annual temperature cycle. The meteorological spring starts on March 1 and includes all of March, April and May.

This time of year, daylight hours are increasing. Since the start of winter, the Miami Valley has already gained an hour of daylight. We will gain another 45 minutes by the end of February. Just before the official start of spring, we will observe daylight saving time. On March 8, we will push our clocks forward one hour, which means it will stay light longer in the evenings.

Average daily temperatures, both highs and lows, are also on the increase this time of year. Right now the average highs are in the upper-30s, but by the start of spring high temperatures are typically in the low-50s. Daily high and low temperatures will continue to climb from now until they peak mid-July.

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