When is the first day of summer 2024? Here's when the season, summer solstice arrive

Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer

Cincinnati's public pools are getting ready to open, schools across the region are wrapping up classes for summer vacation and Kings Island's opening day has come and gone (same with Cedar Point). Has summer officially arrived?

Not yet.

Here's what you need to know about the start of summer, the summer solstice and more.

When is the first day of summer 2024?

The exact start date of summer depends on who you ask.

Climate scientists often identify June 1 as the first day of the meteorological summer.

For those tuned in to the astronomical calendar, summer doesn't start until a few weeks later. The astronomical season starts June 20, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.

What's the difference between meteorological and astronomical seasons?

Astronomical seasons are based on the Earth's position in relation to the sun. The change of seasons is marked by solstices or equinoxes, with the June solstice signaling the start of summer and the autumnal equinox in September signaling the end.

The meteorological start of the season is based on annual temperature cycles and the 12-month calendar. Meteorologists use this system to divide the seasons into four groups of three months, with summer starting June 1 and ending three months later, on Aug. 31.

When is the summer solstice?

The 2024 summer solstice takes place Thursday, June 20, at 4:50 p.m. ET. The summer solstice is the longest day of the year, when the sun is at its highest point in the sky. After the summer solstice, the hours of daylight start to decrease.

What are the dates for the four seasons in 2024?

  • First day of spring: March 19, 2024

  • First day of summer: June 20, 2024

  • First day of fall: Sept. 22, 2024

  • First day of winter: Dec. 21, 2024

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: When is the first day of summer 2024? When is the summer solstice?

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