Spring officially starts in California. Here’s what you need to know

Winter is over. The 2026 spring equinox arrives Friday, March 20, bringing longer days and warmer temperatures to California. Forecasts point to above-normal temperatures across much of the Golden State through the spring months.

FULL STORY: When does spring start in California? Here’s what to know as new season begins

Here are key takeaways:

• The 2026 spring equinox lands on Friday, March 20, at 7:46 a.m., The Sacramento Bee previously reported. The first day of spring usually falls on March 19, 20 or 21.
• During the equinox, the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere receive roughly the same amount of sunlight since neither hemisphere is tilted more toward or away from the sun. The Latin word “equinox” translates to “equal night.”
• Northern California has “leaning above” chances of seeing higher-than-normal temperatures in March, April and May, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center.
• Temperatures in parts of Southern California will likely trend above normal as well, the Climate Prediction Center said.
• The Old Farmer’s Almanac’s 60-day extended forecast calls for slightly warmer temperatures than usual in California for March and April.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.

This story was originally published March 20, 2026 at 5:00 AM.

Hannah Poukish

The Tribune

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Hannah Poukish covers San Luis Obispo County as The Tribune’s government reporter. She previously reported and produced stories for The Sacramento Bee, CNN, Spectrum News and The Mercury News in San Jose. She graduated from Stanford University with a master’s degree in journalism.