When does winter really start? It depends on who you ask
Calendars across the Northern Hemisphere say winter will begin on Dec. 21, but for meteorologists, the start of the season happens three weeks earlier on Dec. 1.
The reason behind the discrepancy is that weather experts follow what’s called meteorological seasons, while others use the astronomical calendar to signify the change.
Meteorologists and climatologists break down the seasons based on when temperatures typically change, not the status of Earth’s rotation.
The start of winter depends on whether you're referring to the astronomical or the meteorological start. (FOX Weather)
Under the meteorological season scheme, the four seasons are each allotted three months, making it easier to calculate statistics and compare weather conditions to previous years.
The rotation of Earth around the Sun and the planet’s tilt make the basis for the astronomical calendar.
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The Earth's orbit around the sun gives our planet its four seasons. (NOAA)
The astronomical changing of the seasons is marked by either a solstice or an equinox.
The summer and winter solstices occur when the Northern Hemisphere is at its maximum tilt toward or away from the Sun, respectively.
When Earth’s axis isn’t tilted in favor of either direction, it’s referred to as an equinox, or the start of spring or fall.
The days that the solstices and equinoxes fall on vary year-by-year because Earth takes slightly more than 365 days to revolve around the Sun, hence why you’ll see slight adjustments in the changing of the astronomical seasons.
NOAA says meteorological seasons were developed because of the ever-changing dates produced by the astronomical calendar.
So when the calendar switches over to December, don’t be shocked if your favorite FOX Weather meteorologist is welcoming everyone to winter.
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Meteorological winter starts on Dec. 1 and runs through Feb. 28, which tends to be a better fit for the coldest time of the year than astronomical winter.