Met Office on specific date summer ends and autumn arrives – and it's soon
The Met Office has confirmed when the end of summer takes place as members of the public were confused on when the season changes.
The Met Office has stepped in to clarify the official end of summer amid public confusion over seasonal dates.
Brits have been left scratching their heads as the Met Office confirms that, despite meteorological summer wrapping up on August 31, we're still basking in astronomical summer for another 20 days. While many are ready to welcome autumn, others are clinging to the final days of summer, with X users voicing their resistance to the seasonal switch.
One adamant user declared: "I don't know who needs to hear this but summer isn't over until September 22nd." Another passionate tweet read: "SUMMER DOESN'T END TIL SEPTEMBER 22nd! ! Like omg why y'all such in a rush??".
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idk who needs to hear this but summer isn’t over until September 22nd
— sarahtonin (@saaarbrens) August 29, 2024
To clear the air, the Met Office has explained the difference between astronomical and meteorological summers. Astronomical summer is based on the Earth's tilt and orbit around the Sun, leading to varying dates each year, while meteorological summer sticks to a fixed calendar.
According to its website: "The astronomical calendar determines the seasons due to the 23.5 degrees of tilt of the Earth's rotational axis in relation to its orbit around the Sun. Both Equinoxes and Solstices are related to the Earth's orbit around the Sun."
Mark your calendars – as this year's summer officially concludes on September 22. But according to the meteorological calendar, summer kicks off on June 1 and wraps up on August 31.
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The Met Office clarifies: "The meteorological seasons consist of splitting the seasons into four periods made up of three months each. These seasons are split to coincide with our Gregorian calendar, making it easier for meteorological observing and forecasting to compare seasonal and monthly statistics.
It also further explains the natural phenomena marking the changes in seasons, noting: "In a year there are two equinoxes (spring and autumn) and two solstices (summer and winter). The dates of the Equinoxes and Solstices aren't fixed due to the Earth's elliptical orbit of the Sun."