SPRING

[lincoln]

Yes it is the 1st day of SPRING today. Yipeeeee Now the days will start to get warmer and longer and lighter. Bring it on.

[zorbathejock]

Well it is and it isn't

When does spring begin?

Astronomically speaking, the March equinox occurs when the Sun crosses the celestial equator on its way north along the ecliptic. In the Northern Hemisphere, the March equinox is known as the vernal, or spring, equinox, and marks the start of the spring season. In the Southern Hemisphere, this equinox is known as the autumnal, or fall, equinox and marks the start of the fall season; the vernal equinox for the Southern Hemisphere occurs in September.

The March equinox happens at the same moment across the world but is converted to local time. In 2015, it falls on March 20 at 6:45 P.M. EDT, 5:45 P.M. CDT, 4:45 P.M. MDT, and 3:45 P.M. PDT, for example.

Meteorologically speaking, however, in the Northern Hemisphere the official spring season always begins on March 1 and continues through May 31. Summer begins on June 1; autumn, September 1; and winter, December 1. Weather scientists divide the year into quarters this way to make it easier to compare seasonal and monthly statistics from one year to the next. The meteorological seasons are based on annual temperature cycles rather than on the position of Earth in relation to the Sun, and they more closely follow the Gregorian calendar. Using the dates of the astronomical equinoxes and solstices for the seasons would present a statistical problem because these dates can vary slightly each year.

[Happy in Cyprus]

While sitting outside, both wife and I commented yesterday and today how vocal the birds are. It's like they know that Spring has arrived. Temps set for 22C later this week. Wonderful news!

[lion]

zorbathejock

Very good post.

[Admin]

It has been a long long winter all six weeks of it , do remember we did not have an autumn it was very warm right up to Christmas, I guess it is easy to forget, great to have some warmer weather been the lowest gas for heating bill year ever for us..

[juliesewell]

Certainly looks like Spring where I am today....





As for 6 weeks of winter..... hmmm, previous years I've still been in the sea in late October to early November but not in 2014. Once we returned from our holiday in Malta in the 2nd week of October, that was my last dip in the pool and no chance of the sea.

This was my first paddle in the sea in 2014 - note the date: Sunday 23 February


Same day this year was Green Monday and we all know what that was like..... ended up overcast, followed by rain which carried on through the day and most of the night too.

This has felt like our longest winter so far in the 11 years we've been living in Limassol and I for one, will certainly be glad for the temperature to hit that 30 Celsius mark just as fast as possible. Bring on the summer!

[peggysue]

It was certainly a morning that made one feel good to be alive. I felt we have turned a corner in the weather conditions now. Spring feels as if it is in the air. We were out walking in Mandria and took some photos on my phone as it was such a lovely day .


Aphrodite Rock

Last of the oranges in Mandria they were large trucks carting them off today.

[Sadie]

I'm with you Jules, what with hunting season and the cold temps it has felt like a very long winter indeed and most Cypriots I have spoken to say they have not known it has cold for many years. There is a definite promise of something better coming

[Rigsby]

I don't think we have much of a spring here. One day it is a mild winter day ........ then bingo the next day it is summer and 26C.