Michigan spring 2023 is here, but the snow doesn’t care

• It will officially be spring in Michigan and most of the eastern time zone after 5 p.m. Monday evening 
• The National Weather Service predicts that there still is a chance of snow for the rest of March 
• Temperatures have been below average in the state, and may not warm up until the first week of April

Spring is here, technically speaking. 

At 5:24 p.m. Monday, Michigan along with Ohio, Indiana, Georgia and Florida, officially enter the spring season, while places in the Southern Hemisphere enter the fall. 

The Vernal Equinox occurs twice each year in March (spring equinox) and September (fall equinox) when the sun's direct rays cross the equator — passing into the Northern Hemisphere in March. Similarly, Europe and Asia will experience warmer brighter days while the weather in Africa and South America will start to cool down. 

Related:

• Six giant, dangerous snails confiscated at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport
• Detroit expects more extreme heat, flooding amid climate change
• What winter? Michigan farmers, anglers hit hard by warm temperatures

Since the sun is directly over the equator at noon, there will be nearly equal amounts of day and night, the National Weather Service explained. The days become a little longer at the higher latitude because it takes the sun longer to rise and set. 

On Monday, and for a few days after the equinox, the length of day in the Northern Hemisphere will range from about 12 hours and six and one-half minutes at the equator, according to the National Weather Service. 

The reason why the seasons change is not necessarily because of Earth’s distance from the sun, but because the Earth is tilted on its axis by 23.5 degrees. In June the Northern Hemisphere is pointed at the sun and December is when it is pointed away from the sun. 

Spring’s arrival does not yet bring warm temperatures to Michigan, however. 

“What we’re looking at right now at least for the rest of March is slightly below normal temperatures,” Joel Veeneman, spokesperson for the National Weather Service told Bridge Michigan on Monday. “There is certainly a chance for us to get additional snowfall over the next two weeks.” 

For people, especially in northern Michigan, who enjoy winter activities like skiing and snowboarding, they have a few more weeks to be able to do it on a fresh bed of snow. But for those who are itching to do some planting, may have to wait. 

“Certainly that first week in April,” he said, “that’s when people start itching for spring-type weather, warmer temperatures, and rainfall as opposed to snowfall.”