Bluebonnets Have Arrived, But Is It Spring In Texas? Yes And No

Even after a historic winter storm in February, bluebonnets have already made an appearance in Texas. So, is it spring yet? Yes and no. 

What You Need To Know

• There are two ways to categorize seasons
• Meteorological spring starts March 1
• Astronomical spring 2021 starts March 20

Did you know there are two ways to categorize the seasons? There's astronomical, or what you might see on a calendar, and meteorological. 

The position of the Earth in relation to the sun forms the basis for astronomical seasons. The annual temperature cycle determines meteorological seasons, and they are better for record-keeping.

The spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere this year, which occurs when the sun crosses the equator line (thus, astronomically based), is on March 20 at 4:37 a.m. CDT. 

Meteorologists, atmospheric scientists, and climatologists break down the seasons into groupings of three months based on the annual temperature cycle as well as our calendar. We call these meteorological seasons.

For example, meteorological spring started on March 1 and includes March, April, and May.

Up next is meteorological summer, which includes June, July, and August. Meteorological fall includes September, October, and November, and meteorological winter includes December, January, and February.

 

Breaking up seasons into groupings of three months also helps with data collecting and record-keeping. 

So is it spring in Texas? Yes and no. Yes, we're already in meteorological spring, but technically, the spring equinox won't arrive until March 20. 

Springtime in Texas is one of my favorite times of the year (followed by fall). Hello, warmer temperatures, wildflowers, and bluebonnets!

I saw a few bluebonnets pop-up in Texas in January, and they're already making a return, even after the winter weather we experienced in February.

If you see any wildflowers or bluebonnets, be sure to share your pictures on the Spectrum News app or email them to [email protected].