When Is The First Day Of Spring 2017? 5 Vernal Equinox Myths Debunked

DETROIT, MI — Spring officially begins in the Northern Hemisphere at 6:29 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Monday, March 20, with the vernal equinox (it’s the beginning of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere). Scientifically, the equinox marks the time when the sun crosses the celestial equator from south to north.

But what you need to know is that it signals earlier sunrises, later sunsets, softer winds and green plants sprouting from the ground. Wait, you thought spring had already sprung?

Indeed, freakishly warm February was the second-hottest on record around the world. The average global temperature for the month of February was 1.76 degrees above the average for the 20th century. And the hottest February on record, since researchers began keeping track in 1880? You probably remember it well. It was last year, in 2016.

Here are five things to know about the beginning of spring:

1. Can you really stand an egg on its end at the exact moment spring arrives?

Yes, but no more so on the first day of spring than on any other day, according to “The Bad Astronomer” Philip Plait, who compares the egg standing myth to “an extremely contagious virus.” Plait, an American astronomer, skeptic, writer and popular science blogger, says the reason eggs can be balanced most likely has to do with tiny bumps on the shell that “act like little legs holding the egg up.”

2. Does spring really make people more amorous?

Uhm, no, according to the Science of Relationships, which says sexual drives and mating behaviors follow six-month cycles. So, you’re most likely to feel the urge to go forth and procreate, or at least practice for it, in the winter and spring.

3. During the equinox, can you stand in the direct sun and not cast a shadow?

The sun’s new angle during the equinox will change the length of your shadow, but conditions would have to be perfect for this to happen. For example, you’d have to be standing right at the equator when the clock strikes noon to avoid casting a shadow, according to Accuweather.

• SEE ALSO: 2017 Guide To Meteor Showers, Total Solar Eclipse, Other Celestial Events

4. Does the sun rise due east and set due west at the equinox?

Yes, it does, no matter where you are on Earth. If you’re directionally confused, or downright dysfunctional, this is a good time of year to find due east and due west, according to Earthsky.org, which advises: “Just go outside around sunset or sunrise and notice the location of the sun on the horizon with respect to familiar landmarks.” Your clarity won’t last, though, as the direction of the sun will shift as the season progresses.

5. During the equinox, will we have equal hours of day and night?

No, according to National Geographic, which debunked the myth by consulting the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. The true days of equal daylight and nighttime always fall before the spring equinox and fall, or autumnal, equinox. And then it depends on where you are on the planet. So, when the sun passes over the equator on Monday, the day will be a little longer than the night, no matter where you are.

Spring 2017 Outlook

Above normal temperatures are forecast for April, May and June in many parts of the continental United States and in Alaska, according to the National Weather Service. Spring is expected to be warmer than usual in an area stretching eastward from the southwest to much of the central and eastern United States, with the greatest odds in the south-central plains and eastern United States.

Areas of the northern Rockies, northern plains and western areas of the Gulf Coast are also expected to get above-normal precipitation, while below normal rainfall is favored for western Alaska.

So what does the weather hold for your area for the first day of spring? No matter where you’re at, check your local forecast your Patch home page. In the Detroit area, the high is expected to be in the low 40s, with an overnight low around 32 degrees. There is a 60 percent chance of light rain in the afternoon, continuing until evening.

Photo by Beth Dalbey / Patch Staff