When Does Summer Start? A Comprehensive Guide to Summer Start Dates in Different Time Zones & hemispheres.
In 2023, Summer begins on Wednesday, June 21st in the northern hemisphere.
As the weather starts to warm up, people across the globe start to ask themselves the same question: when does summer officially start? While the answer might seem straightforward, it’s actually a bit more complicated than you might think. The start of summer can vary depending on your location, as well as the calendar system you use. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at when summer officially starts in different time zones, and what factors determine the start of this popular season.
When Does Summer Start – Understanding The Seasons
Before we dive into summer start dates, let’s take a moment to review what determines the seasons in the first place. Most people know that the Earth’s orbit around the sun is responsible for the changing seasons, but there are a few other factors to consider as well. For example, the tilt of the Earth’s axis plays a major role in the seasons, as it causes different parts of the planet to receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year.
In addition to the Earth’s tilt, the position of the sun in relation to the planet also changes throughout the year. During the summer months, the sun is positioned directly over the Tropic of Cancer, which is located at 23.5 degrees north of the equator. This is why the summer solstice (the longest day of the year) occurs on or around June 21st in the Northern Hemisphere.
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With that in mind, let’s take a look at when summer starts in different time zones.
Summer’s Date Start In The Northern Hemisphere
Eastern Time Zone
In the Eastern Time Zone (ET), which includes major cities such as New York and Atlanta, summer officially starts on June 20th or 21st, depending on the year. This is the date of the summer solstice, which is the point at which the sun is at its highest point in the sky and daylight hours are at their longest. The summer solstice is celebrated in many cultures around the world and is often associated with festivals and rituals.
Central Time Zone
Moving westward, the Central Time Zone (CT) covers cities such as Chicago and Dallas. Here, summer starts at the same time as it does in the Eastern Time Zone: on the summer solstice, which falls on June 20th or 21st depending on the year.
Mountain Time Zone
The Mountain Time Zone (MT) covers states such as Colorado and Arizona. Summer officially starts here on the same date as it does in the Eastern and Central Time Zones: on the summer solstice, which occurs on June 20th or 21st each year.
Pacific Time Zone
In the Pacific Time Zone (PT), which includes cities such as Los Angeles and Seattle, summer starts on the same date as in the other time zones: on the summer solstice, which falls on June 20th or 21st each year.
Alaska Time Zone
Moving further west, the Alaska Time Zone (AKT) covers the state of Alaska. Due to its location near the Arctic Circle, Alaska experiences some unique seasonal changes. Summer starts here on the summer solstice, which falls on June 20th or 21st each year.
Hawaii-Aleutian Time Zone
Finally, we have the Hawaii-Aleutian Time Zone (HAT), which covers the state of Hawaii as well as the Aleutian Islands. Because Hawaii is located so close to the equator, the seasons are less pronounced here than in other parts of the world. However, summer officially starts on the summer solstice, which falls on June 20th or 21st each year.
Europe
If you’re seeing a pattern, you are correct.
In 2023, Summer begins June 21st in Europe.
Throughout the Northern Hemisphere, Summer begins on June 20th or 21st. Summer begins on the Summer Solstice, which is the longest day of the year.
When Does Summer Start – Southern Hemisphere
If you noticed that Summer begins on June 20th or 21st in the northern hemisphere every year, then you will notice the same for the southern hemisphere.
For our friends down under in Australia, Summer begins each year on December 21st or 22nd.
While different time zones will vary slightly on the clock, all time zones in the southern hemisphere start Summer on the same date.
Now when someone asks you when Summer starts, you will know 🙂