Spring is here in California. How much sunshine will we gain as seasons change?
Congratulations, Californians. You’ve finally made it through the coldest, darkest days of the year.
Winter is over — and a new season is here.
Spring officially starts on Thursday, March 20, which means more sunlight and warmer days are on their way to the Golden State.
The spring equinox marks the formal start of the season in the Northern Hemisphere and the return of hotter temperatures to California.
Here’s what to know about the change of seasons:
When is the first day of spring?
The 2025 spring equinox lands on Thursday, March 20, at 2:01 a.m., according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
The first day of spring usually falls on March 19, 20, or 21, the almanac said.
What is the vernal equinox?
The vernal equinox marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
During the March equinox, the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere receive roughly the same amount of sunlight since neither hemisphere is tilted more toward or away from the sun, the almanac said.
The Latin word “equinox” translates to “equal night” in English.
“On the equinox, the length of day and night is nearly equal in all parts of the world,” the almanac said.
How much more sunlight will California get?
The start of spring means more light in the mornings and evenings.
Once spring begins, the Northern Hemisphere will see more sun than the Southern Hemisphere.
Every day leading up to and following the spring equinox, California gains roughly 2 minutes and 30 seconds of additional sunlight, according to Time and Date, an online global clock.
California will experience longer days and shorter nights up until the summer solstice on Friday, June 20, the longest day of the year.
What are sunrise, sunset times in California?
As California enters spring, sunrise times become earlier and sunset times become gradually later each day.
When the new season starts on Thursday, sunrise in Sacramento will be at 7:08 a.m. and sunset will be at 7:18 p.m., according to online clock website Time and Date.
Here are the monthly sunrise and sunset times until November:
- March 20: 7:08 a.m. sunrise, 7:18 p.m. sunset
- April 20: 6:22 a.m. sunrise, 7:47 p.m. sunset
- May 20: 5:49 a.m. sunrise, 8:15 p.m. sunset
- June 20: 5:41 a.m. sunrise, 8:33 p.m. sunset
- July 20: 5:58 a.m. sunrise, 8:26 p.m. sunset
- Aug. 20: 6:25 a.m. sunrise., 7:52 p.m. sunset
- Sept. 20: 6:52 a.m. sunrise, 7:05 p.m. sunset
- Oct. 20: 7:20 a.m. sunrise, 6:20 p.m. sunset
What’s the spring weather forecast for California?
Hotter temperatures typically return to parts of California following the spring equinox.
“Spring is ... the time when the cold of winter begins to give way to warmer weather,” Time and Date said.
Northern California has “equal chances” of seeing above-normal or below-normal temperatures in March, April and May, according to the long-range forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center.
Temperatures in parts of Southern California will likely trend above normal, the Climate Prediction Center said.
According to the Old Farmer Almanac’s 60-day extended forecast, colder temperatures may hang on for a little longer in California.
“April and May will be cooler than normal,” the Old Farmer’s Almanac said in its forecast for the Pacific Southwest region. “Rainfall will be below normal in the north and above normal in the south.”
This story was originally published March 19, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
