Hello Meteorological Summer

Welcome to summer!  Well, sort of.  June 1st marks the beginning of Meteorological Summer, while June 20th is the official start of summer (astronomical summer).  What's the difference between the two, you ask? 

Meteorologists and climatologists break down the seasons into three month groupings based on the annual temperature cycle.  We tend to think of summer as the hottest time of the year and winter as the coldest time of the year.  And statistically, those hot months consist of June, July and August while the coldest months are December, January and February.  In between are the transition months of spring and fall.  It's also easier for scientists to keep track of climate data when it's based on a set three month period.  Astronomical seasons are based on the position of the Earth in relation to the sun. 

Meteorological Summer runs through the end of August when Meteorological Fall begins on September 1st.