Monday, June 1st... the first day of summer astronomically in the Northern Hemisphere

The first Monday of June marks the beginning of summer according to the climatic calendar adopted in meteorology in the northern hemisphere, while this period begins astronomically with the summer solstice, which usually occurs on June 21 of each year.

This date marks the beginning of summer from a meteorological or climatological perspective. It is the calendar used by weather experts and climate scientists to divide the year into four equal seasons, each lasting three full months, which facilitates the monitoring, archiving, analysis, and comparison of climatic data between different years.

What is meant by meteorological summer?

Meteorologists rely on the climatological calendar to determine the seasons, with summer in the Northern Hemisphere beginning on June 1st and lasting until the end of August. This division differs from the astronomical calendar, which links the beginning of the seasons to the Earth's movement around the sun and the occurrence of solstices and equinoxes.

This system is widely used in meteorological centers around the world due to its accuracy in climate and statistical studies, as it allows for a more regular comparison of monthly and seasonal data.

Why does summer meteorologically begin in June?

The arrival of June coincides with an increase in sunshine hours in the northern hemisphere and a rise in the amount of solar energy reaching the Earth's surface, which gradually establishes summer weather characteristics in many regions.

Adopting the start of summer on the first day of June also provides a fixed time frame for weather forecasters and climate researchers when studying temperatures, rainfall and seasonal weather phenomena.

When does summer begin astronomically?

The astronomical beginning of summer is with the summer solstice on June 21, the day on which the regions of the northern hemisphere of the Earth record the longest day and shortest night of the year, as a result of the sun reaching its highest apparent altitude in the north.

Thus, summer each year has two different start dates; the first is meteorological on June 1st, and the second is astronomical on June 21st, and each is used for different scientific purposes.