When does summer start?

[styley]

I always thought it started on june 21st but someone told me today that today, may 1st is the start of summer. Confused.

[bobtheturkey]

when the rain is slightly mild on your face that is summer

[cazzz1975]

I hope you like the weather at the moment, its the predicted weather for the large majority of the summer

[coco pops]

You are correct June 21st.

[Buenchico]

21st June is mid-summer's day. As we go through the first half of the year, the sun gets slightly higher in the sky at noon (GMT) each day. It reaches it's highest point on 21st June, which is the 'summer solstice'.

So the ('official') middle of summer is defined by astronomy. However, the dates for the start and end of summer are only defined by convention. (So there can be differing answers depending upon which convention you follow). Many people (including, for example, the BBC's weather presenters) adhere to the tradition that the 1st of May represents the first day of summer.

For practical purposes, the convention followed by many owners' of holiday accommodation makes more sense. They often define 'summer' (for the purposes of determining their tariffs) as June, July and August (since those are the most 'summery' months in the UK). That makes 1st June the start of summer. As it's only a convention, this date is no more 'right' or 'wrong' than 1st May.

If we return to seeking a 'scientific' date, and accept that each season should last for a quarter of a year (i.e. around 91 days), it follows that the start and end of summer should be about 45 or 46 days either side of mid-summer's day. This would place the start of summer around 6th or 7th May.

Chris

[styley]

Well, CHRISTOPHER, thank you, but now I'm even more conflustered.

[Buenchico]

OK, here's an easier answer:

The British summer actually starts when the temperature gets above about 25C (77F). It ends about half an hour later when the thunderstorm starts.


Chris (and most definitely NOT Christopher - I hate that name!)

[styley]

Sorry, joking, cheers.

[paulsmummy]

laughed at bob the turkey............ i did earlier at the leaning on the washing machine to put slippers on aswell.......hahaha funny guy..lol

[trish432]

Me and my partner are always arguing this point, I say June 21st, as spring starts March 21st, but he disagrees with this as well.