Mar 18, 2025 - Science
How much daylight you're gaining as spring begins
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Ahh, spring. The season of thawing out, fresh air and, yes, more daylight.
Driving the news: Parts of the U.S. will gain three hours or more of daylight between Thursday's spring equinox and the summer solstice on June 20, per NOAA's solar calculator.
How it works: Here in the Northern Hemisphere, northern latitudes gain more daylight in the spring compared to areas closer to the equator as the Sun's path through the sky shifts northward.
- The summer solstice marks the longest day — and the start of the Sun's southward retreat, with shorter days to follow.
Yes, but: Spring isn't all rosy.
- It's also prime pollen time, and allergy season is getting longer in many parts of the country.
