After a long winter, the first day of spring is a welcome sign of warmer weather, longer days, and blooming flowers. This live countdown shows exactly how many days are left until the spring equinox.
Spring at a glance
- Next date
- Saturday, March 20, 2027
- Day of the week
- Saturday
- How the date is set
- The first day of spring is the March equinox, which falls on or around March 20 depending on the year (dates shown in U.S. Eastern Time)
- Category
- Seasons
Spring dates for the next 5 years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Saturday | |
| 2028 | Sunday | |
| 2029 | Tuesday | |
| 2030 | Wednesday | |
| 2031 | Thursday |
What is the spring equinox?
The spring, or vernal, equinox is the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator heading north. On that day, day and night are roughly equal in length all over the world, and from then on, days in the Northern Hemisphere keep getting longer than nights until the summer solstice.
Because Earth's orbit does not line up perfectly with our calendar, the exact date of the equinox shifts slightly from year to year, usually landing on March 19 or 20 in the United States.
Astronomical vs. meteorological spring
Astronomers mark the start of spring at the equinox. Meteorologists, however, divide the year into three-month seasons to make weather records easier to compare, so meteorological spring always starts on March 1 and runs through May 31.
Frequently asked questions
When is Spring 2027?
Spring 2027 is on Saturday, March 20, 2027. The first day of spring is the March equinox, which falls on or around March 20 depending on the year (dates shown in U.S. Eastern Time).
How many days until Spring?
The live countdown at the top of this page shows exactly how many days, hours, minutes, and seconds are left until Spring, calculated for your local time zone.
Is the first day of spring always March 20?
No. The March equinox usually falls on March 20 in the United States, but in some years it lands on March 19. The exact date depends on the year and your time zone.
When do the clocks change in spring?
In most of the United States, daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday of March, usually a week or two before the first day of spring.