Countdown to Spring
About this countdown
This countdown points to March 20, the date most commonly associated with the March equinox and the astronomical start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. (The precise equinox moment shifts between March 19 and 21 depending on the year and your time zone.)
Meteorologists start spring on March 1 for record-keeping — but for most people counting through the last stretch of winter, the equinox is the finish line.
About First Day of Spring
- Date
- ~March 20 (equinox: Mar 19–21)
- Also called
- Vernal equinox
- Type
- Astronomical season start
- Hemisphere
- Northern
- Meaning
- Day and night nearly equal; days lengthening
The March equinox is the moment the sun crosses the celestial equator heading north — day and night nearly equal everywhere on Earth, and the astronomical start of spring for the Northern Hemisphere. Cultures have built festivals on it for millennia, from Persian Nowruz (the new year) to countless planting rites.
The date wobbles between March 19 and 21 because the astronomical year runs about six hours longer than the calendar year — the drift leap years exist to correct. This page uses March 20, the most common date.
First Day of Spring: Facts Worth Knowing
- Nowruz, the Persian New Year celebrated by 300+ million people, begins at the exact moment of the March equinox.
- At the equinox, the sun rises due east and sets due west everywhere on Earth.
- 'Equinox' is Latin for 'equal night.'
- The equinox at Chichen Itza famously casts a serpent-shaped shadow down the pyramid's staircase.
- Meteorological spring starts March 1 — weather record-keeping prefers tidy month blocks.
- Cherry-blossom season across the Northern Hemisphere clusters around the weeks following the equinox.
Upcoming Dates: When Is First Day of Spring Next?
Computed automatically for the next ten years — always current, never out of date.
| Year | Date | Day of week |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | March 20 | Saturday |
| 2028 | March 20 | Monday |
| 2029 | March 20 | Tuesday |
| 2030 | March 20 | Wednesday |
| 2031 | March 20 | Thursday |
| 2032 | March 20 | Saturday |
| 2033 | March 20 | Sunday |
| 2034 | March 20 | Monday |
| 2035 | March 20 | Tuesday |
| 2036 | March 20 | Thursday |
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Frequently asked questions
When is the first day of spring?
This countdown uses March 20, the most common date of the March equinox. The astronomical moment varies between March 19 and 21 by year and time zone; meteorological spring begins March 1.
How many days until spring?
The live counter above shows the exact days, hours, minutes and seconds remaining in your local time zone.
What is the equinox?
It's the moment the sun crosses the celestial equator, making day and night nearly equal in length everywhere on Earth.
Is it spring everywhere at once?
No — the March equinox begins autumn in the Southern Hemisphere; their spring starts in September.