The sun is finally shining in London today, after weeks of grey skies and rain.
The temperature in the capital is set to rise as high as 17C or 18C, warmer than cities such as Barcelona and Malaga.
The end of winter is finally in sight — but when does spring officially start?
The spring equinox, also known as the vernal equinox, marks the astronomical start of spring. It occurs when the sun crosses the celestial equator — a notional extension of Earth’s actual equator — moving northwards.
Here’s everything you need to know about the vernal (or spring) equinox.
Astronomical spring and meteorological spring fall on different days
When is the spring equinox 2026?
The spring equinox begins on Thursday, March 20, the first day of astronomical spring. Meteorological spring falls on March 1.
The Met Office says astronomical seasons “refer to the position of Earth’s orbit in relation to the sun”. It says meteorological seasons are “based on the annual temperature cycle”, to coincide with the calendar.
This year, the spring equinox takes place in the northern hemisphere on March 20 at 2.46pm GMT.
The spring equinox always falls on one of three days towards the end of March.
Spring is nearly here
What is the spring equinox?
An equinox is a phenomenon that occurs twice a year — once during the spring equinox and once during the autumn equinox. In the northern hemisphere, the spring equinox typically falls around March 20, signalling the end of winter and the arrival of spring.
Conversely, the autumn equinox takes place around September 23, marking the transition from summer to autumn.
An equinox happens between the summer and winter solstices when the sun is positioned directly above the equator before crossing it.
According to the Met Office, the spring equinox marks the beginning of astronomical spring —from this point onward, daylight hours become longer than the night. Conversely, the autumn equinox signifies the start of autumn, as nights begin to outlast the days.
During an equinox, day and night are approximately equal in length.
Equinox comes from Latin, combining equi (meaning equal) and nox (meaning night), reflecting the balance of daylight and darkness on this day.