Was Woodchuck Willie right?
Well, depending on which measurement you use, the first day of Spring is today, March 1. But if you go by other measurements. it is mid-March.
Tom Skilling, WGN’s longtime meteorologist who recently retired, would remind listeners that March 1 is the first day of Spring. And Woodstock Willie predicted an early Spring this year during his annual coming out event on the town’s historic square, Feb. 2.
But astronomers would mark March 20 of 2025 beginning at 4:01 CDT (9:01 UTC) as the season’s first day.
EarthSky explains Astronomical Spring by noting that it happens in relationship to the Earth’s rotation and that the vernal equinox happens when the sun moves further north over the Equator. That also marks the Southern Hemisphere’s first day of Autumn.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac explains that on the March equinox, the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere receive about equal amounts of sunlight. That is because neither hemisphere is tilted more toward or away from the Sun.
Meteorological spring starts on March 1 and runs through May 31 every year no matter the timing of the vernal equinox.
With temps about to reach the mid to upper 50’s today, Chicago area residents are likely to believe or hope that Woodstock Willie was right.
For more information visit EarthSky and Old Farmer’s Almanac.
