By all accounts, spring has nearly settled into Texas. Hummingbirds have returned, and the temperatures have stabilized after an unusually cold and snowy winter.

The first day of meteorological spring was on March 1, and clocks sprang forward on March 9 for the beginning of daylight saving time. Now, it’s almost time for the first day of astronomical spring.

Here’s what to know about the arrival of spring and what experts are saying about the season’s forecast in Texas.

When is the 1st day of spring 2025?

This year, the first day of astronomical spring (also called the spring equinox) is Thursday, March 20, 2025.

Is the first day of spring the same every year? Why it changes

The first day of spring is not always on March 21, but usually within a few days of that date, falling on March 19, March 20 or March 21 — depending on when the vernal (or spring) equinox is. We actually won’t see an astronomical first day of spring fall on March 21 in this century.

The spring equinox is the first day of astronomical spring. The meteorological first day of spring does fall on the same day every year, on March 1.

“Interestingly, due to time zone differences, there hasn’t been a March 21 equinox in mainland United States during the entire 21st century,” the Old Farmer’s Almanac says. “We won’t see a March 21 equinox again until 2101. Meteorologically speaking, the official first day of spring is March 1 (and the last is May 31).”

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Astronomical versus meteorological seasons: What’s the difference?

Astronomical seasons are marked by equinoxes and solstices, which relate to the position of the earth. Meteorological seasons are based on annual temperature patterns and cycles, which is why each season has both an astronomical and meteorological first day.

“Astronomical seasons are based on the position of the Earth in relation to the sun, whereas meteorological seasons are based on the annual temperature cycle,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says. “The Earth’s annual trip around the sun forms the basis for the astronomical calendar in which seasons are defined by two solstices and two equinoxes.”

What is the difference between solstice and equinox? What happens during an equinox?

There are two equinoxes and two solstices each year. Equinoxes occur during the fall and spring and are called the autumnal and vernal equinoxes.

They mark the first day of spring and the first day of fall each year. Solstices occur during the winter and summer and mark the shortest and longest days of the year, respectively. The summer solstice is considered the first day of summer and the winter solstice is considered the first day of winter.

Equinoxes are the only two times of the year when the earth’s axis isn’t tilted toward or away from the sun, which results in a “nearly” equal amount of daylight and darkness at all latitudes, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

“At the equator, the sun is directly overhead at noon on these two equinoxes,” NWS says. “The ‘nearly’ equal hours of day and night are due to refraction of sunlight or a bending of the light’s rays that causes the sun to appear above the horizon when the actual position of the sun is below the horizon.”

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What will spring weather look like in Texas?

While the ENSO phase — La Niña or El Niño 

— primarily impacts winter, it can also shape spring weather patterns.

According to NOAA, if La Niña persists, the central and southern U.S., including Texas, could see an increase in large hail and tornado events from March through May. Currently, there’s a 34% chance La Niña will extend into spring, potentially leading to more frequent severe weather in the early months of the season.

However, the Farmer’s Almanac paints a different picture. While much of the U.S. is expected to experience a “Thunder and Zing Spring” in 2025, Texas, Oklahoma, and the Great Plains are forecasted to have “warm, dry” conditions.

Texas will likely start spring with cooler-than-normal temperatures, but by May, the Almanac anticipates a shift to above-average warmth. Summer is expected to bring continued heat, with rainfall hovering near or slightly below normal levels.