March, April, May – spring is on its way.
June, July, August – summer heat we trust.
September, October, November – autumn leaves remember.
December, January, February – winter cold and scary.
| Season | Astronomical (approx. dates) | Meteorological (full months) | |--------|------------------------------|------------------------------| | Spring | March 20 – June 20 | March, April, May | | Summer | June 21 – September 22 | June, July, August | | Autumn | September 23 – December 21 | September, October, November | | Winter | December 22 – March 19 | December, January, February | months for the seasons verified
Note: Astronomical start dates vary by ±1 day due to leap years. March, April, May – spring is on its way
Meteorologists and climatologists split the year into four neat, three-month blocks based on the annual temperature cycle and the Gregorian calendar. This system makes record-keeping and forecasting consistent. | Season | Astronomical (approx
Published by: The Science Desk
Fact-Check Status: ✅ Verified against astronomical and meteorological standards (NASA, NOAA, Royal Greenwich Observatory)
Every year, as the temperature shifts and daylight hours change, a common question emerges from classrooms, trivia nights, and family debates: Which months truly belong to which season? While the answer seems simple, confusion persists due to two competing systems: astronomical seasons (based on Earth’s orbit) and meteorological seasons (based on temperature cycles). This article verifies the exact months for each season, explains why discrepancies exist, and provides a permanent reference you can trust.
Why do we associate certain months with specific weather patterns? The relationship between months and seasons depends on two things: Earth's tilt and your hemisphere. This guide covers the standard meteorological seasons (based on temperature cycles) and the astronomical seasons (based on solstices/equinoxes).