When Is First Day Of Spring 2017?

Despite some recent rounds of cool temperatures, the first official day of spring arrives early Monday morning, March 20, in Georgia. Otherwise known as the 2017 spring equinox, the day brings the promise of warmer days and more hours of sunshine; for the record spring begins Monday at 6:29 a.m. ET.

The vernal equinox, or spring equinox, is one of two times a year when we have nearly equal parts day and night, according to Almanac.com.

"The word equinox is derived from the Latin words meaning “equal night,” The Old Farmer's Almanac reported. "Days and nights are approximately equal everywhere and the Sun rises and sets due east and west."

If they haven't already, Atlanta area restaurants are quick to embrace the warm weather by opening outdoor dining areas.

Monday's weather forecast from the National Weather Service will feel much more like spring than this weekend. Look for sunny skies on Monday with a high near 71. The low Monday night will be around 55. Spring continues on Tuesday with a high near 78 and a very springlike 20 percent chance of thunderstorms. The thermometer is expected to dip about 20 degrees on Thursday, but should rebound to the 70s by the weekend.

What is your favorite place for dining outside? What spring traditions do have? Tell us in the comments.

Gardener's await spring with anticipation. According to Georgia Organics, it's time or past time for many cool season garden crops, so get busy.

Spring Vegetables And Their Planting Dates

• Asparagus, Jan 15 – Mar 1
• Beets, Feb 15 – April 1
• Broccoli, Feb 15 – Mar 15
• Cabbage, Jan 15 – Mar 15
• Carrots, Jan 15 – Mar 29
• Cauliflower, Mar 1 – Apr 1
• Collards, Feb 15 – Mar 15
• Kale, Feb 1 – Mar 10
• Lettuce, Jan 15 – Mar 1
• Mustard, Jan 15 – Apr 1
• Onions, Jan 1 – Mar 15
• Peas, Jan 15 – Feb 15
• Potatoes, Irish, Jan 15 – Mar 15
• Radish, Jan 15 – Apr 1
• Spinach, Jan 15 – Mar 15
• Turnips, Jan 15 – Apr 1

Find average frost dates in a chart available online so you don't jump the gun on a crop that can't survive any late chills.

The long-range weather forecasts for spring in the South call for warmer-than-average temperatures across the southern tier of the nation as spring begins. Weather.com says warmer-than-average conditions are forecast to encompass a swath of the nation's midsection, including parts of the South, in April. That warmth is expected to stay parked across the nation's midsection and the Deep South in May, says the forecast.

Early indications hint at a warmer-than-average summer is in store for the United States, particularly early on, which may not be a surprise after one of the warmest February months on record.
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