The days are getting longer, daffodils are blooming, and the weather is edging its way, just about, to (slightly) warmer temperatures. All that can mean only one thing: spring has almost sprung. And with a change in season comes more daylight hours – all thanks to the clocks moving forward.
When this happens the UK is on what is known as British Summer Time or Daylight Saving Time, which sees the clocks springing forward by one hour – allowing for more daylight in the evenings and the mornings. On the first day of spring – aka the vernal equinox – the UK is said to have 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. When the clocks go back in October the UK will be on Greenwich Mean Time.
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But what date do the clocks go forward? And when is the first day of spring? Well, if you are referring to the meteorological spring, then March 1 is the first day of the season. Meteorological spring will always start and end on the same date each year and lasts from March 1 to May 31. This is because it is based on annual temperature cycles and the Gregorian calendar.
If you go by the astronomical spring times the season typically occurs on or around March 20. Here's everything you need to know about the clocks changing and when to officially welcome spring.
When do clocks go forward?
As has been the case for over 100 years British Summer Time sees clocks go forward by one hour at 1am on the last Sunday in March and back by one hour at 2am on the last Sunday in October for Greenwich Mean Time. It means in 2023 the clocks will change on Sunday, March 26. While technological advances means that your smart devices will automatically update make a point of checking them in case you need to do it manually – we wouldn't want you to be late!
When is the first day of spring?
As previously mentioned, if you're referring to the meteorological springtime the season begins March 1 and ends on May 31. Metrological seasons, as stated by the Met Office, are split into four periods made up of three months each.
"These seasons are split to coincide with our Gregorian calendar, making it easier for meteorological observing and forecasting to compare seasonal and monthly statistics. By the meteorological calendar, spring will always start on March 1; ending on May 31."
If you go by the astronomical calendar springtime in 2023 starts on Monday, March 20, and lasts until Thursday, June 20. On June 21 the summer solstice will occur, marking the beginning of summer.
The Met Office determines astronomical seasons by "the position of earth's orbit in relation to the sun, considering equinoxes and solstices. This is due to the 23.5 degrees of tilt of the earth's rotational axis concerning its orbit around the sun. Since the seasons vary in length, the start date of a new season can fall on different days each year."
If you wondering when our next bank holidays, including those for Easter, are then you can read all about that here.
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