You wake up, look at the calendar, and see it’s mid-May. The sun is blazing. You’re already thinking about breaking out the AC, yet your neighbor is still complaining about "spring allergies." It feels like summer. It looks like summer. But is it still spring, or have we officially crossed the threshold into the long, grueling heat of the year?
It’s a simple question with a messy answer.
The truth is that "spring" isn't just one thing. It’s a messy overlap of orbital mechanics, atmospheric pressure, and how the plants in your backyard are behaving. If you ask an astronomer, they’ll point at the stars. Ask a meteorologist, and they’ll check their spreadsheets. Ask a gardener, and they’ll show you the dirt under their fingernails. Honestly, they’re all right, even if they disagree on the date by several weeks.
The Astronomer’s Rigid Deadline
Most of us grew up learning about the vernal equinox. That’s the "official" start. In the Northern Hemisphere, this usually lands around March 20th. Because the Earth is tilted on its axis at roughly 23.5 degrees, there are only two moments in our orbit where the sun shines directly over the equator.
Everything stays in spring—astronomically speaking—until the Summer Solstice.
In 2026, that solstice happens on June 21st. Until that exact moment when the North Pole reaches its maximum tilt toward the sun, the answer to is it still spring is a resounding yes. It doesn't matter if it's 95 degrees in Austin, Texas. According to the planet’s position in the solar system, we are still in the transition phase.
But let’s be real. Nobody actually lives their life by the tilt of the Earth’s axis.
If you’re sweating through your shirt in early June, telling yourself "it’s still spring" feels like a lie. This is why we have different ways of measuring the seasons. The astronomical definition is great for making calendars, but it’s pretty useless for deciding when to plant tomatoes or buy a swimsuit.
Why Meteorologists Think the Calendar is Wrong
Meteorologists don't have time for the equinox. They like things neat. They like three-month blocks.
For a weather forecaster, spring is March, April, and May. Period.
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The reason is simple: data. It’s way easier to compare climate statistics when you use full months rather than splitting them up based on a shifting astronomical event. By the time June 1st rolls around, meteorologists consider it "Meteorological Summer."
Why? Because by June, the temperature profiles in the Northern Hemisphere have usually shifted significantly. The "lag of the seasons" means that even though the solstice is the longest day of the year, the hottest days usually come later. However, the warming trend is so established by June 1st that grouping June with March just doesn't make sense from a data perspective.
So, if you’re asking is it still spring on June 5th, your local weatherman would say no. You’ve been in summer for five days.
The "Biological Spring" Happening in Your Backyard
Then there’s the version of spring that actually affects your life. Phenology.
Phenology is the study of cyclic natural phenomena. Basically, it’s watching when things happen in nature. When do the cherry blossoms peak? When do the bees wake up? When does the first leaf appear on that oak tree in your park?
This is what scientists call "Biological Spring," and it’s arguably the most honest version of the season.
The National Phenology Network (USA-NPN) tracks the "First Leaf Index" and "First Bloom Index." They’ve found that spring is moving. It’s twitchy. In some years, a "false spring" hits in February, tricking plants into blooming early, only for a frost to kill them off.
In 2026, we’ve seen some wild swings. Parts of the Southeast saw spring activity weeks ahead of schedule, while the Pacific Northwest stayed locked in a damp, chilly "extended winter" well into April.
If the lilacs have already bloomed and dropped their petals, biological spring might be over for you, even if the calendar says otherwise. Nature doesn't read the Old Farmer's Almanac. It reacts to soil temperature and light.
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The Psychology of the "Long Spring"
There’s a weird psychological phenomenon that happens every year. We spend all winter desperate for the first green bud. We celebrate the first day it hits 60 degrees. But then, about six weeks in, we get bored.
By mid-May, most people are mentally done with spring. We want the pool days. We want the Fourth of July vibes.
This is why the question is it still spring often feels like a plea for summer to hurry up. We treat spring as a bridge. It’s the hallway between the "real" seasons of winter and summer. But there’s a lot of value in staying in that hallway a little longer.
Spring is the only time of year when the temperature is actually "temperate." It’s the season of the light jacket. It’s the time when the air smells like wet dirt and ozone. Once summer hits, that freshness evaporates into a thick wall of humidity or dry heat.
The Global Perspective: It’s Not Spring Everywhere
We’re talking about the Northern Hemisphere here, obviously. If you’re reading this in Sydney or Buenos Aires, you aren’t asking is it still spring. You’re asking if autumn is ever going to end so you can get to the cozy parts of winter.
Down south, the seasons are flipped.
- Northern Hemisphere Spring: March, April, May (Meteorological)
- Southern Hemisphere Spring: September, October, November (Meteorological)
It’s a good reminder that "Spring" isn't a global state of being. It’s a regional transition. Even within the US, the experience of spring is wildly different. A "spring day" in Vermont might mean mud and 45-degree rain. A "spring day" in Arizona is a beautiful 80-degree afternoon before the 110-degree furnace of July arrives.
Is It Still Spring? The Verdict
So, where do we stand?
If it is currently between March 20th and June 20th, you are officially, legally, and astronomically in spring.
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If you are past June 1st, the weather people have moved on to summer.
If your allergies are currently making your eyes itch and the trees are a vibrant, neon green, you are biologically in spring.
The season is a spectrum. It’s not a light switch. We like to think of the world in "on" and "off" positions, but the climate is a slow fade. You’ll know spring is truly over when the "freshness" of the green leaves turns into a deep, dark, waxy forest green. You’ll know it’s over when the birds stop their frantic dawn chorus and settle into the quiet work of raising their young.
Actionable Steps for the "Late Spring" Transition
Since we are technically still in the season (or just leaving it), here is how to handle this weird "in-between" time without losing your mind.
1. Check the Soil, Not the Sky
If you’re wondering if it’s safe to plant your heat-loving veggies (peppers, eggplant, tomatoes), don't look at the calendar. Use a soil thermometer. You want the ground to stay consistently above 60°F. If the soil is still cold, your plants will just sit there and pout, even if the air feels like summer.
2. Prepare for the "June Gloom"
In many coastal areas, the end of spring brings a thick marine layer. Don't pack away all your sweaters yet. Late spring often features some of the most volatile temperature swings of the year as the land heats up but the ocean stays freezing cold.
3. Track Your Own Phenology
Start a small "nature log." Note when the first dandelion appears or when the first firefly flashes. Over the years, you’ll start to see your own personal definition of spring. You’ll realize that for your specific neighborhood, spring might actually start on April 12th and end on June 4th, regardless of what the news says.
4. Optimize Your HVAC Now
Don't wait until the first 100-degree day to see if your AC works. Since it's technically still spring, HVAC companies aren't yet in their "emergency" summer rush. Get a tune-up now while you can still get an appointment.
5. Enjoy the "Goldilocks" Light
The sun’s angle right now is unique. It’s high enough to be bright but low enough to create long, soft shadows in the late afternoon. This is the best time of year for outdoor photography. Take advantage of that "still spring" light before the harsh, vertical sun of mid-summer flattens everything out.
Ultimately, spring is a state of mind as much as it is a movement of the stars. It’s the season of hope and messy transitions. Whether it’s "still" spring depends entirely on how much pollen you’re willing to tolerate and how much you’re looking forward to the heat. Enjoy the cool mornings while they last; the swelter is coming soon enough.
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