Equinoxes & Solstices 2024
Exact moments the seasons change
In 2024, the March equinox is on 20 March 2024, the June solstice on 20 June 2024, the September equinox on 22 September 2024 and the December solstice on 21 December 2024 (UTC).
March equinox
20 March 2024, 03:06 UTC
Start of spring (north) · autumn (south)
June solstice
20 June 2024, 20:50 UTC
Start of summer (north) · winter (south)
September equinox
22 September 2024, 12:43 UTC
Start of autumn (fall) (north) · spring (south)
December solstice
21 December 2024, 09:20 UTC
Start of winter (north) · summer (south)
Local times around the world
| City | March eq. | June sol. | September eq. | December sol. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 19 Mar, 8:06 PM | 20 Jun, 1:50 PM | 22 Sep, 5:43 AM | 21 Dec, 1:20 AM |
| New York City | 19 Mar, 11:06 PM | 20 Jun, 4:50 PM | 22 Sep, 8:43 AM | 21 Dec, 4:20 AM |
| London | 20 Mar, 3:06 AM | 20 Jun, 9:50 PM | 22 Sep, 1:43 PM | 21 Dec, 9:20 AM |
| Dubai | 20 Mar, 7:06 AM | 21 Jun, 12:50 AM | 22 Sep, 4:43 PM | 21 Dec, 1:20 PM |
| Delhi | 20 Mar, 8:36 AM | 21 Jun, 2:20 AM | 22 Sep, 6:13 PM | 21 Dec, 2:50 PM |
| Dhaka | 20 Mar, 9:06 AM | 21 Jun, 2:50 AM | 22 Sep, 6:43 PM | 21 Dec, 3:20 PM |
| Tokyo | 20 Mar, 12:06 PM | 21 Jun, 5:50 AM | 22 Sep, 9:43 PM | 21 Dec, 6:20 PM |
| Sydney | 20 Mar, 2:06 PM | 21 Jun, 6:50 AM | 22 Sep, 10:43 PM | 21 Dec, 8:20 PM |
Calculated with Jean Meeus’s algorithms; times are accurate to about a minute.
Frequently asked questions
When is the first day of spring 2024?
Astronomical spring in the Northern Hemisphere begins at the March equinox: 20 March 2024, 03:06 UTC. (Meteorologists count spring from 1 March.)
When is the summer solstice 2024?
The June solstice — the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere — is at 20 June 2024, 20:50 UTC.
When is the first day of fall 2024?
The September equinox, the start of astronomical autumn in the north, is at 22 September 2024, 12:43 UTC.
When is the winter solstice 2024?
The December solstice — the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere — is at 21 December 2024, 09:20 UTC.
Why does the date change from year to year?
A year is about 365.24 days long, so the moment of each equinox and solstice shifts by roughly six hours a year, and leap days pull it back. Local time zones can also move it to a different calendar date.