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What is the spring equinox?

Meteorological , while astronomical spring — marked by the spring equinox — happens in the Northern Hemisphere between March 19 and 21, depending on the year. The spring equinox is typically considered the official first day of spring.

Meteorological spring is centred around weather patterns and linked to the Gregorian calendar.

During the spring equinox, the sun passes directly above the equator going south to north.

This year, the spring equinox arrives Thursday, March 20, at 5:01 a.m.��

What is the significance of the spring equinox?

Daylight has been increasing little by little each day since the winter solstice in December.

After the spring equinox, many people will get to experience more daylight than darkness during the day, according to the . Daylight continues to increase until the summer solstice, which happens this year June 20.

The term equinox has Latin roots with the Latin word “aequus,” meaning equal, and “nox,” meaning night, which translates to “equal night.”

Equinoxes occur twice during the year — once in March (the spring equinox) and once in September (the autumnal equinox).��

The spring equinox symbolizes new beginnings, fertility and the return of light. Cultures around the world continue to mark equinoxes — traditions that date back to early human life.��

“Observing and predicting equinoxes is one of the earliest skills in humanity’s astronomical toolkit,” according to an .��

What will the weather in Ontario be like on the first day of spring?

Despite the arrival of spring,  Thursday.��

For southwestern Ontario and parts of the Greater Toronto Area, showers are expected to begin Wednesday evening and start off the day Thursday.

Thursday will start off mild, but a cold front is making its way into the area.

Showers in southwestern Ontario will become flurries as the temperature drops close to the freezing mark. The temperature drop will encompass the GTA by midday Thursday.��Simcoe County and Bruce Peninsula will also see a drop in temperature.��

The GTA could see a mixture of rain showers or snow flurries for the evening commute Thursday.

Showers and thunderstorms can be expected in the Ottawa Valley Thursday, which may turn into snow in the late evening hours into early Friday.

What will spring weather in Ontario be like this year?

Ontario residents have had a tease of some warmer spring weather, but will need to pack some patience as the season takes its time unfolding in the next few months.

At least, that’s the prediction according to The Weather Network meteorologists.

The company issued its  March 13.

“We’ve already been teased by some pleasant springlike weather, but it looks like warmer temperatures won’t stick around just yet,” the company said. “In fact, the end of March and the first half of April could still bring a few parting punches from winter, especially in the northern parts of the province. However, this delay in consistent warmth will help extend the spring ski season.”

Farmer’s Almanac spring weather prediction

Southern Ontario

Southern Ontario is in for warmer and drier conditions in the north of the region this spring, with near-normal temperatures and wetter-than-normal conditions in the south, according to .

April is expected to bring with it rain and snow in the west and then heavy snow in the north.

Other parts of Canada

Spring is expected to be warmer than normal in British Columbia, Yukon, southern Northwest Territories, the Prairies and southern Ontario, along with Quebec’s central and northern areas.

Northern Ontario, southern Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador are predicted to see cooler than normal temperatures. In Atlantic Canada, near normal temperatures are expected in Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.��

The western provinces — western Prairies through British Columbia, Yukon and the Northwest Territories — will see a wetter and warmer than usual spring.

Newfoundland and Labrador, southeastern Ontario, a region above the Great Lakes, and southeastern Quebec will also have a wet spring with more precipitation expected than normal

The middle of the country and western Atlantic Canada, including P.E.I., Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, are expected to experience dryer conditions than normal.

For more predictions from the Farmer’s Almanac, check out their .��

— With files from Janis Ramsay