[pleccy2000]

Some people say 1st September, others say 22nd September... Does anyone know when spring officially starts?

Is it still winter now? or spring?? It's a topic that nobody I talk to seems to know. They have their opinion but not an official date. (Who decides anyway)>???? There must be an answer!

Anyone here know?

[TonnyTessa]

I actually know this :) the 21st of September and 21st of March are midway the summer and winter solstices and traditionally are seen as the beginning of a new season (just like the solstices). However often the weather has already changed by that time. So meteorologist take the beginning of the month as the beginning of the new season.

Of course in most parts of the world the seasons don't divide as nicely into 4 fairly evenly distributed seasons: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8215570.stm

[M-Squared]

There again, 21st Dec is oft viewed as "Midwinter"

Dec, Jan, Feb = Summer
Mar, Apr, May = Autumn
Jun, Jul, Aug = Winter





Sep, Oct, Nov = Spring wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!

[KelvinAng]

Happy Spring!!!

I never quite understand the division of the seasons... If 21st June is the winter solstice, which is the shortest day hence the "middle" of winter, then why does winter last from 1st June to 31st August, instead of 7th May to 6th August? :laugh

[ykkee]

My boss said, "It is the first day of Spring today". Well, we gotta listen to them :P Happy Spring!!

[pleccy2000]

So seasons have nothing to do with Equinoxes and Solstices? hmm. begs the question - What defines a season. Daffodils popped up in my garden 2 weeks ago, and my friend who has a farm had lambs 2 weeks ago also - traditionally these events happen in spring, but they didn't; they occurred in mid August which is winter.

[akp713b]

Spring does officially begin on the vernal equinox which is never at the exact same time but falls at a specific moment usually on september 21 or 22 in NZ. It is the moment that the sun's rays are directly on the equator.

In the US the meteorologists tell is the exact time spring etc. begin, like 2:33 AM on the 22nd or something of that sort. The Autumnal Equinox is on March 21-22 in NZ. Our summer solstice, which is December 21-22 is the moment the suns rays are the furthest south, just reaching the Tropic of Capricorn.

NZ is the only country I know where the "official" start to each season is declared to be the start of a month like Spring on 1 September, even though this has no scientific basis. So while it is officially Spring in NZ, it remains officially winter in many other southern hemisphere countries, and scientifically speaking it is still winter.

In the US there are unofficial starts to seasons, like Labor Day starting fall or Memorial Day starting summer, but the official meteorological start is on the equinox or solstice. I don't know why NZ does it differently.

[Jo Jo]

NZ is the only country I know where the "official" start to each season is declared to be the start of a month like Spring on 1 September, even though this has no scientific basis.

The Met Office in the UK (http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/2006/pr20060317b.html) also classifies the start of seasons at the start of a month, for the following reason: "climatologically, because of the variation in the days on which the equinox and solstice falls, it is more convenient to use whole months. The Met Office therefore classifies the spring months as being March, April and May."

[YouMeAndThree]

I've had my first New Zealand winter, and tbh I don't think it's right to say it's 3 months long at all :laugh, so I'm more than happy to say it's Spring right now :D

[Mamee & Co]

yes, and we are now in autumn according to the Met Office, but I think that that season began sometime in July!! Now here's hoping that I make it to NZ before summer's end!

Though given the temps you have been posting your winter is like my summer anyway!

Mamee

[girlwithanewf]

I would definitely agree with that about a Scottish summer being like a New Zealand winter. We have had some great days, but there have been all too many days when the temperature in Wellington has been higher than here in Scotland, despite it being summer here. So glad to hear there are daffodils! High up on my things I will miss list, along with bluebells. Had the same conversation here today, about it being the first day of autumn. Always thought it was the autumn equinox myself. Happy spring time!

[pleccy2000]

Spring does officially begin on the vernal equinox which is never at the exact same time but falls at a specific moment usually on september 21 or 22 in NZ. It is the moment that the sun's rays are directly on the equator.

In the US the meteorologists tell is the exact time spring etc. begin, like 2:33 AM on the 22nd or something of that sort. The Autumnal Equinox is on March 21-22 in NZ. Our summer solstice, which is December 21-22 is the moment the suns rays are the furthest south, just reaching the Tropic of Capricorn.

NZ is the only country I know where the "official" start to each season is declared to be the start of a month like Spring on 1 September, even though this has no scientific basis. So while it is officially Spring in NZ, it remains officially winter in many other southern hemisphere countries, and scientifically speaking it is still winter.

In the US there are unofficial starts to seasons, like Labor Day starting fall or Memorial Day starting summer, but the official meteorological start is on the equinox or solstice. I don't know why NZ does it differently.

Awesome answer thank you. I'm gonna go with Sept 22nd then.

[Ngeru]

I think the newer arrivals need to be aware that August was officially the warmest ever on record; that's a once in 155 years event. So don't be fooled, they say that spring has arrived about a month earlier than usual.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/national/2823582/Warmest-August-in-155-years

[Sam B]

Well, it has been pretty Spring-like in Cambridge in August for the last 2 years, with lambs, daffodils, blossoms etc.. Last year was very wet at this time, but it was still very flowery and reminded me more of a British April. The weatherman on the news just said it was the second day of spring. It feels like Spring - hurrah! Winter is over and I'm feeling quite happy.

[Bozeman]

I also hear people swear that Monday is the first day of the week! (Next we'll have February as the first month of the year...) Call me old-fashioned but I don't think the first day of Spring is arbitrary. The vernal equinox lands on 22 September this year (in NZ) and I will welcome Spring on that day.

[akp713b]

I'm happy to welcome spring a bit early, but what really bothers me is the way NZ declares 1 March to be the start of autumn. For one thing, March is warmer than December, which is supposed to be an official summer month. For another, due to the short month of February this makes summer several days shorter than the other seasons. I can't stand that people start saying summer is over so early. It doesn't really end until 21 or 22 March and I want those three extra weeks of being in summer mindset.

[able]

I agree with you trying to keep summer going as long as possible akp713b but if we take the equinoxes as the beginnings of spring and autumn, then surely summer would START on midsummer's day?

[Sam B]

Well to me Spring is a feeling as much as anything, and when I'm surrounded by sunshine, flowers, lambs and birds singing and I feel all happy and want to be in the garden all day it's Spring for me.

[Ngeru]

Yeah, for now I'm going for the duck test;

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.

If it looks like Spring and feels like spring... then it probably is!! :clap

[Carey]

Yeah, for now I'm going for the duck test;

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.

If it looks like Spring and feels like spring... then it probably is!! :clap

Agreed; I watch the tree buds like a hawk and as soon as I spy a bulging greeness, I'm frolicking like the lambs! There's a certain smell in the air too. Strangely even the kids at school all suddenly start behaving better at playtime when the sun shines!

[frootbat]

I think the newer arrivals need to be aware that August was officially the warmest ever on record; that's a once in 155 years event. So don't be fooled, they say that spring has arrived about a month earlier than usual.

Fair point, but I've also read, and been told by a few folk, that this winter (in Auckland) was colder than usual, we even had (shock, horror) frost!

I'm not convinced we had a winter (by our british standards) at all really, having been snowed in in February when still in England, and whether it's late winter or early spring here in NZ, I can tell you that we're already slapping on the sunscreen and swimming in the sea on fine days. And I cleaned the barbie up this week ready for it's first airing of the season. I wouldn't be doing that in early March back home.

[petri]

swimming in the sea on fine days

Do you mean that the sea isn't no longer frozen in Auckland?!

But I must admit that there's something cool about walking on the frozen sea the same routes you take the boat during the summer..

[doreysc]

But I must admit that there's something cool about walking on the frozen sea the same routes you take the boat during the summer..

I would think everything would be cool at those temperatures :exit