Spring is fast approaching, and if you’re like me, you’re looking forward to warmer weather, sunshine, blooming flowers, and being outside. 

Meteorological spring starts on March 1. However, the official first day of spring is about three weeks later, on March 20. 

This day is known as the vernal equinox. On this day, the sun is directly above the equator, and day and night are about equal length.

The equinox is an event that happens twice per year, once in fall and once in spring. This year, the vernal equinox occurs at 5:37 a.m. on Saturday, March 20. 

The summer and winter solstices result in the longest and shortest day of the year, while the equinoxes result in day and night being approximately the same length.

The sunrise time in Syracuse on March 20 is 7:07 a.m., and the sunset is at 7:17 p.m. We will continue to gain daylight with each passing day until we reach the summer solstice. 

By the summer solstice (June 20), the official start to summer, the sunset time in Syracuse is 8:47 p.m. By that point, we are at about 15 hours and 22 minutes of daylight.

Enjoy the spring season!