Meteorologists and climatologists use the meteorological seasonal calendar, which is based off of the annual temperature cycle. This means summer starts June 1, fall starts September 1, winter starts December 1 and Springs starts March 1.
Everyone else observes the popular astronomical calendar. Astronomical seasons are based on the Earth's position in relation to the sun. There are two equinoxes (fall and spring) and two solstices (winter and summer).
RELATED: County-by-County Forecasts
The summer solstice is June 21 and will mark a slow transition to shorter days and longer nights as we make the progress back toward winter.
Equinoxes are when the sun passes directly over the equator, the solstices mark when the is farthest north or south of the equator. Summer will begin, astronomically speaking, with the summer solstice on June 21.
About the Author