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Spring has sprung, depending on what you consider the first day of the season. The first day of meteorological spring was on March 1 and the first day of astronomical spring will fall almost two weeks after this week's time change.

Here's when the official first days of spring are, why there's a different first day for meteorological and astronomical seasons, what equinoxes are and when we spring forward in 2025.

Is March 20 always the first day of spring?

The first day of spring is not always on March 20, but usually within a few days of that date, falling on March 19, 20 or 21 - depending on when the vernal (or spring) equinox is.

The spring equinox is the first day of astronomical spring. The meteorological first day of spring does fall on the same day every year, on March 1.

"Interestingly, due to time zone differences, there hasn't been a March 21 equinox in mainland United States during the entire 21st century," The Old Farmer's Almanac says.

"We won't see a March 21 equinox again until 2101. Meteorologically speaking, the official first day of spring is March 1 (and the last is May 31)."

This year, the spring equinox falls on Thursday, March 20.

Meteorological v. astronomical seasons: What to know about the spring equinox

Astronomical seasons are marked by equinoxes and solstices, which relate to the position of the earth. Meteorological seasons are based on annual temperature patterns and cycles, which is why each season has both an astronomical and meteorological first day.

"Astronomical seasons are based on the position of the Earth in relation to the sun, whereas meteorological seasons are based on the annual temperature cycle," NOAA says.

"The Earth's annual trip around the sun forms the basis for the astronomical calendar in which seasons are defined by two solstices and two equinoxes."

What is the difference between solstice and equinox? What happens during an equinox?

There are two equinoxes and two solstices each year. Equinoxes occur during the fall and spring and are called the autumnal and vernal equinoxes.

They mark the first day of spring and the first day of fall each year. Solstices occur during the winter and summer and mark the shortest and longest days of the year, respectively. The summer solstice is considered the first day of summer and the winter solstice is considered the first day of winter.

Equinoxes are the only two times of the year when the earth's axis isn't tilted toward or away from the sun, which results in a "nearly" equal amount of daylight and darkness at all latitudes, according to NWS.

"At the equator, the sun is directly overhead at noon on these two equinoxes," NWS says. "The 'nearly' equal hours of day and night are due to refraction of sunlight or a bending of the light's rays that causes the sun to appear above the horizon when the actual position of the sun is below the horizon."

When is daylight saving time? What to know about spring forward 2025

Another marker that spring has sprung is the March time change, which is coming up this weekend. On Sunday, March 9, we will lose an hour of sleep and spring forward into Daylight Saving Time, which will turn back to Standard Time in November.

Daylight saving time for 2025 will begin at 2 a.m. EST Sunday, March 9, 2025, and we fall back again at 2 a.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025.