Spring 2027 starts with the March equinox on Saturday, March 20, 2027, at 4:24 p.m. EDT (20:24 UTC). It ends at the summer solstice on Monday, June 21, 2027, at 10:10 a.m. EDT. Meteorological spring runs March 1 to May 31.
When does spring start in 2027? Astronomical spring 2027 begins at the March equinox on the afternoon of Saturday, March 20, 2027, the same date across the Americas, Europe, and Africa.
In Japan and Australia, the equinox falls on Sunday, March 21. Meteorological spring starts earlier, on Monday, March 1, 2027. Spring 2027 also contains four full moons instead of the usual three, which makes the May 20 full moon a seasonal Blue Moon.
This page gives the exact start and end of spring 2027 in every US time zone, the meteorological dates, the Southern Hemisphere dates, and a calendar of the holidays and full moons that fall within the spring 2027 season, including Easter on Sunday, March 28, 2027.
For the astronomy of the equinox itself, see our Spring Equinox guide.
Table of Contents
When does spring start in 2027?
Astronomical spring 2027 starts on Saturday, March 20, 2027, at 4:24 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, which is 20:24 UTC. At that moment, the Sun crosses the celestial equator heading north.
The table below shows the start of spring 2027 in each US time zone and four international cities. Rows marked with an asterisk fall on Sunday, March 21, rather than Saturday, March 20.
| Time zone | Local date | Local time |
|---|---|---|
| UTC | Saturday, March 20, 2027 | 8:24 p.m. |
| Eastern (EDT) | Saturday, March 20, 2027 | 4:24 p.m. |
| Central (CDT) | Saturday, March 20, 2027 | 3:24 p.m. |
| Mountain (MDT) | Saturday, March 20, 2027 | 2:24 p.m. |
| Arizona (MST) | Saturday, March 20, 2027 | 1:24 p.m. |
| Pacific (PDT) | Saturday, March 20, 2027 | 1:24 p.m. |
| Alaska (AKDT) | Saturday, March 20, 2027 | 12:24 p.m. |
| Hawaii (HST) | Saturday, March 20, 2027 | 10:24 a.m. |
| London (GMT) | Saturday, March 20, 2027 | 8:24 p.m. |
| Tokyo (JST) | Sunday, March 21, 2027* | 5:24 a.m. |
| Sydney (AEDT) | Sunday, March 21, 2027* | 7:24 a.m. |
Daylight saving time begins on Sunday, March 14, 2027, six days before the equinox, so US times for the start of spring are listed in daylight time.
London is still on Greenwich Mean Time because British Summer Time does not begin until Sunday, March 28, 2027. In Sydney, the same moment marks the start of autumn.
When does meteorological spring 2027 start?
Meteorological spring 2027 starts on Monday, March 1, 2027, and ends on Monday, May 31, 2027. The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), part of NOAA, defines meteorological spring as March, April, and May.
Forecasters group seasons by whole months because astronomical seasons vary between 89 and 93 days, which makes year-to-year climate comparisons difficult. Meteorological spring always lasts 92 days.
When does spring 2027 end?
Spring 2027 ends at the summer solstice on Monday, June 21, 2027, at 10:10 a.m. EDT (14:10 UTC). Astronomical spring 2027 lasts 92 days, 17 hours, and 46 minutes.
Every US time zone, the UK, and Europe share June 21 as the last day of spring; in Sydney, the solstice falls at 12:10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 22.
Meteorological spring ends earlier, on Monday, May 31, 2027, because Tuesday, June 1, 2027, is the first day of meteorological summer. Memorial Day also falls on Monday, May 31, 2027, so the unofficial start of summer and the last day of meteorological spring land on the same date.
Spring start and end dates, 2027 to 2031
In US Eastern Time, spring starts on March 20 in every year from 2027 to 2031 except 2028, when it starts on Sunday, March 19.
The equinox moves about 5 hours and 50 minutes later each year, then jumps back almost a full calendar day in leap years such as 2028.
The table lists the start and end of astronomical spring for five years, calculated with Astronomy Engine. Independent sources may differ by one minute because of rounding.
| Year | Spring starts (UTC) | Spring starts (ET) | Spring ends (UTC) | Spring ends (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Sat, Mar 20, 20:24 | Sat, Mar 20, 4:24 p.m. | Mon, Jun 21, 14:10 | Mon, Jun 21, 10:10 a.m. |
| 2028 | Mon, Mar 20, 02:17 | Sun, Mar 19, 10:17 p.m. | Tue, Jun 20, 20:01 | Tue, Jun 20, 4:01 p.m. |
| 2029 | Tue, Mar 20, 08:01 | Tue, Mar 20, 4:01 a.m. | Thu, Jun 21, 01:48 | Wed, Jun 20, 9:48 p.m. |
| 2030 | Wed, Mar 20, 13:51 | Wed, Mar 20, 9:51 a.m. | Fri, Jun 21, 07:31 | Fri, Jun 21, 3:31 a.m. |
| 2031 | Thu, Mar 20, 19:40 | Thu, Mar 20, 3:40 p.m. | Sat, Jun 21, 13:17 | Sat, Jun 21, 9:17 a.m. |
Spring 2028 starts on March 19 across the United States but on March 20 in UTC, which splits the first day of spring between the US and Europe.
Astronomical spring vs. meteorological spring in 2027
The two definitions of spring 2027 start 19 days apart and end 21 days apart. Astronomical spring follows Earth’s position relative to the Sun. Meteorological spring follows the calendar and the temperature cycle.
| Attribute | Astronomical spring 2027 | Meteorological spring 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Starts | Saturday, March 20, 2027 | Monday, March 1, 2027 |
| Ends | Monday, June 21, 2027 | Monday, May 31, 2027 |
| Length | 92 days, 17 hours, 46 minutes | 92 days |
| Basis | Sun crossing the celestial equator heading north | Three whole calendar months |
| Used by | Astronomers, calendars, most media | NOAA, the UK Met Office, climate records |
| Next season begins | Summer solstice, Monday, June 21, 2027 | Tuesday, June 1, 2027 |
Neither definition is the official one for the United States. No federal law sets the start of spring. Calendars and news outlets usually use the equinox, while weather services use March 1.
Why spring is the second-longest season
Astronomical spring 2027 lasts 92 days, 17 hours, and 46 minutes, longer than fall and winter but about 22 hours shorter than summer. Earth’s orbit is an ellipse, and Earth moves more slowly as it approaches aphelion, its farthest point from the Sun, which falls on Monday, July 5, 2027. Because Earth slows down through the spring and summer quarters of its orbit, those seasons last longer than fall and winter, when Earth is closer to the Sun and moving faster.
Is day and night equal on the first day of spring 2027?
No. On Saturday, March 20, 2027, most places in the United States already get slightly more than 12 hours of daylight. The Sun’s disk is measured from its top edge at sunrise and sunset, and atmospheric refraction lifts the Sun’s image above the horizon before it rises. Both effects add a few minutes of daylight at each end of the day.
The spring equilux, the first day with at least 12 hours of daylight, therefore comes a few days before the equinox. Daylight also grows faster around the equinox than at any other time of year. The table shows both effects for five US cities, calculated with Astronomy Engine.
| City | First day with 12+ hours | Daylight on Sat, Mar 20, 2027 | Daily gain at the equinox | Daylight on Mon, Jun 21, 2027 | Daylight gained in spring |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | Tuesday, March 16, 2027 | 12 h 07 m | 1.5 minutes | 13 h 45 m | 1 h 38 m |
| New York City | Wednesday, March 17, 2027 | 12 h 08 m | 2.7 minutes | 15 h 06 m | 2 h 57 m |
| Chicago | Wednesday, March 17, 2027 | 12 h 08 m | 2.8 minutes | 15 h 14 m | 3 h 05 m |
| Seattle | Thursday, March 18, 2027 | 12 h 10 m | 3.5 minutes | 15 h 59 m | 3 h 49 m |
| Anchorage | Thursday, March 18, 2027 | 12 h 14 m | 5.8 minutes | 19 h 22 m | 7 h 08 m |
The daily gain grows with latitude. Anchorage adds almost six minutes of daylight per day around the equinox, while Miami adds about a minute and a half.
What are the spring months?
The spring months in the Northern Hemisphere are March, April, and May under the meteorological definition. Under the astronomical definition, spring 2027 covers the last 12 days of March, all of April and May, and the first 20 days of June.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the spring months are September, October, and November. Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology starts spring on September 1 because that date fits Australian temperature patterns better than the September equinox.
When does spring 2027 start in the UK and Australia?
Spring 2027 in the UK starts on Saturday, March 20, 2027, at 8:24 p.m. GMT under the astronomical definition, and on Monday, March 1, 2027, under the meteorological definition.
The Met Office uses meteorological seasons for its seasonal statistics and climate summaries, which places UK spring from March 1 to May 31.
In Australia, spring 2027 falls six months later, because the seasons are reversed. The table compares spring 2027 in the three regions.
| Region | Meteorological spring 2027 | Astronomical spring 2027 starts | Definition in common use |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Monday, March 1, to Monday, May 31, 2027 | Saturday, March 20, 2027, 4:24 p.m. EDT | Astronomical in calendars; meteorological at NOAA |
| United Kingdom | Monday, March 1, to Monday, May 31, 2027 | Saturday, March 20, 2027, 8:24 p.m. GMT | Meteorological at the Met Office |
| Australia | Wednesday, September 1, to Tuesday, November 30, 2027 | Thursday, September 23, 2027, 4:01 p.m. AEST | Meteorological at the Bureau of Meteorology |
Spring 2027 has four full moons
Spring 2027 contains four full moons, so the third one, on Thursday, May 20, 2027, is a seasonal Blue Moon.
NASA defines a seasonal blue moon as the third full moon in a season that has four instead of the usual three. A season holds four full moons when a full moon arrives within a few days after the equinox, as the March 22 full moon does in 2027.
| Full moon | Date | Time (ET) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worm Moon | Monday, March 22, 2027 | 6:44 a.m. EDT | Two days after the equinox |
| Pink Moon | Tuesday, April 20, 2027 | 6:27 p.m. EDT | One day before Passover begins |
| Flower Moon (Blue Moon) | Thursday, May 20, 2027 | 6:59 a.m. EDT | Third of four spring full moons |
| Strawberry Moon | Friday, June 18, 2027 | 8:45 p.m. EDT | Last full moon before the solstice |
A seasonal Blue Moon is not blue in color. The name refers only to its position in the season.
Key spring 2027 dates
Easter 2027 falls on Sunday, March 28, 2027, eight days after the start of spring. Western churches set Easter as the first Sunday after the ecclesiastical full moon that falls on or after March 21, so an early equinox full moon produces an early Easter. Orthodox Easter 2027 falls five weeks later, on Sunday, May 2, 2027.
Passover 2027 runs from sundown on Wednesday, April 21, to nightfall on Thursday, April 29, 2027, in the Diaspora.
The table lists the holidays, full moons, and seasonal markers from the start of meteorological spring to the summer solstice.
| Event | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Meteorological spring begins | Monday, March 1, 2027 | NOAA and Met Office definition |
| Daylight saving time begins | Sunday, March 14, 2027 | Clocks go forward one hour at 2:00 a.m. |
| St. Patrick’s Day | Wednesday, March 17, 2027 | Fixed date |
| March equinox | Saturday, March 20, 2027 | 4:24 p.m. EDT |
| Worm Moon | Monday, March 22, 2027 | 6:44 a.m. EDT |
| Good Friday | Friday, March 26, 2027 | Two days before Easter |
| Easter Sunday | Sunday, March 28, 2027 | Western churches |
| Tax Day | Thursday, April 15, 2027 | Federal income tax deadline |
| Pink Moon | Tuesday, April 20, 2027 | 6:27 p.m. EDT |
| Passover begins | Wednesday, April 21, 2027 | At sundown |
| Earth Day | Thursday, April 22, 2027 | Fixed date |
| Arbor Day | Friday, April 30, 2027 | Last Friday of April |
| Orthodox Easter | Sunday, May 2, 2027 | Eastern Orthodox churches |
| Cinco de Mayo | Wednesday, May 5, 2027 | Fixed date |
| Mother’s Day | Sunday, May 9, 2027 | Second Sunday of May |
| Flower Moon (Blue Moon) | Thursday, May 20, 2027 | 6:59 a.m. EDT |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 31, 2027 | Last day of meteorological spring |
| Strawberry Moon | Friday, June 18, 2027 | 8:45 p.m. EDT |
| Father’s Day | Sunday, June 20, 2027 | Third Sunday of June |
| Summer solstice | Monday, June 21, 2027 | 10:10 a.m. EDT, end of spring |
What spring 2027 is not
The first day of spring 2027 is not March 21, a date many people still associate with spring. In 2027, the equinox falls on Saturday, March 20, in the United States and Europe.
The first day of spring is also not the first day with 12 hours of daylight, which arrives two to four days earlier. A seasonal Blue Moon is not a blue-colored moon, and it is not the same as a monthly Blue Moon, the second full moon in a calendar month.
Finally, “spring” on this page refers to the season. It does not cover spring break, which is a school holiday set by individual colleges and districts, or spring weather forecasts, which depend on regional conditions rather than the calendar.
Frequently asked questions
What is the first day of spring 2027?
The first day of spring 2027 is Saturday, March 20, 2027, in every US time zone, when the equinox occurs at 4:24 p.m. EDT. The date is the same in the UK and Europe. In Japan and Australia, the equinox falls on Sunday, March 21, 2027, local time.
Is March 1 the first day of spring?
March 1 is the first day of meteorological spring, used by NOAA and the UK Met Office for climate records. In 2027, it falls on a Monday. Astronomical spring 2027 starts later, on Saturday, March 20, 2027, at the equinox. Both answers are correct under their own definitions.
When does spring end in 2027?
Astronomical spring 2027 ends at the summer solstice on Monday, June 21, 2027, at 10:10 a.m. EDT. Meteorological spring ends earlier, on Monday, May 31, 2027, which is also Memorial Day. Meteorological summer then starts on Tuesday, June 1, 2027.
How long is spring 2027?
Astronomical spring 2027 lasts 92 days, 17 hours, and 46 minutes, making it the second-longest season after summer. Meteorological spring always lasts 92 days, from March 1 to May 31. Spring is longer than fall and winter because Earth moves more slowly as it approaches aphelion in July.
Is there a Blue Moon in spring 2027?
Yes. Spring 2027 has four full moons, so the third one, the Flower Moon on Thursday, May 20, 2027, at 6:59 a.m. EDT, is a seasonal Blue Moon. The other spring full moons fall on March 22, April 20, and June 18, 2027.
When is Easter 2027?
Easter 2027 falls on Sunday, March 28, 2027, eight days after the start of spring. Good Friday is Friday, March 26, 2027. Orthodox Easter 2027 falls five weeks later, on Sunday, May 2, 2027, because Eastern Orthodox churches calculate the date with the Julian calendar.
When is spring in Australia in 2027?
Spring in Australia in 2027 runs from Wednesday, September 1, to Tuesday, November 30, 2027, under the Bureau of Meteorology’s definition. Astronomical spring begins at the September equinox, at 4:01 p.m. on Thursday, September 23, 2027, Sydney time. The seasons are reversed because Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere.
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