STONY POINT, NY – Get ready, Rockland County! Spring is coming a bit earlier than usual this year. On Tuesday, March 19, at 11:06 p.m. EDT, the vernal equinox will kick off the spring season. Normally, this switch happens on March 20th or 21st, but 2024 is a leap year, so things are a bit different.
What’s a leap year? Well, it’s because of how Earth moves. A year is about 365 days long, but it actually takes Earth a bit more time to go all the way around the sun – about 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds, to be exact. So, every four years, we add an extra day to February to keep everything in line.
Because of this, spring is starting earlier this year, at 11:06 p.m. EDT on March 19. This affects everyone across the U.S., from the East Coast to the West Coast.
Looking ahead, this pattern will continue until 2103, with spring starting earlier on March 19 during leap years. On non-leap years, like 2025, spring will start on March 20.
When spring starts, it’s called the vernal equinox. This means that day and night are about the same length because the sun is right over the equator. While we in the Northern Hemisphere enjoy spring, people in the Southern Hemisphere are having their fall season.
It’s important to know the difference between astronomical and meteorological seasons. Meteorologists have a set system based on climate patterns, so they say spring starts on March 1. But when we talk about the seasons based on the sun’s position, it’s a bit different.
So get ready to say hello to spring in Rockland County! Keep an eye on RocklandNews.com for more updates as we welcome the changing seasons.