Today is the first day of meteorological spring. Here’s what it means.

March 1, 2021Updated: March 1, 2021 2:44 p.m.

A lightning strike near the Alamo Quarry Market is seen Sunday afternoon, June 4, 2017, as storms rushed through San Antonio. 

Molly Davis/Express-News

Happy first day of meteorological spring! You may hear meteorologists say this on March 1, which is the day when these select group marks the beginning of spring. Though the first “official” day is March 20 with the spring equinox, both are used to begin the start of a new season, but are based on different things important to know.

The March 20 date is based on the astronomical season of the spring equinox. However, the astronomical seasons can vary between 89 and 93 days making it hard for meteorologists to compare climate data from one year to the next. So the meteorological seasons were created.

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The meteorological seasons are based on the temperatures with the coldest temperatures in the winter, warmest in the summer, then fall and spring as the transition seasons. Therefore, the meteorological spring are the entire months of March, April and May.

Based on past weather data, the risk for severe weather in Texas such as thunderstorms, hail, flooding and tornadoes starts to increase in March. As the seasons change with more warm and moist air returning, the atmosphere becomes more favorable for severe weather. In Texas, March is also typically the end to the cold winter temperatures. Although cold fronts can still occur, freezing temperatures will usually die down.

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Teresa Velasco is a digital producer for MySA and the San Antonio Express-News. She has a bachelor’s degree in broadcast meteorology. She uses data provided by the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and others for her forecasts. 

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