How many days until Spring 2018
To answer how many days until Spring 2018 from any given date, count the days between that date and the start of spring. Spring 2018 began on Wednesday, March 20, 2018, which was the March equinox (astronomical start). If you were calculating from a date in early January 2018, that is roughly 79 days; from early February, about 48 days; and from early March, about 19 days. Choose the reference date and spring definition to match your needs, and use the steps below for reliable calendar math.
What we mean by spring
Astronomical spring
Astronomical spring starts at the March equinox, when the sun crosses the celestial equator heading north. In 2018, this occurred on March 20 at 16:15 UTC. Exact timing varies by year and time zone, so the number of days until spring can shift by a day depending on where you are and which moment you use.
Meteorological spring
Meteorological spring follows fixed three-month blocks aligned with temperature and weather records. It begins on March 1 and ends on May 31. This definition is commonly used by climatology and planning because seasons match the calendar and simplify comparisons across years.
How to count the days until Spring 2018
Counting days between two dates is straightforward when you account for full months and remaining days. Select a start date, identify whether you are targeting the astronomical event or the fixed March 1 start, and sum the days. Manual month-by-month counting or a date difference calculator can both work. Below is a general reference to give a strong estimate for early calendar year dates.
Reference: days from early 2018 to Spring 2018
| Reference date | Season definition | Spring 2018 start | Days until spring 2018 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2018 | Astronomical (March 20) | March 20, 2018 | 79 days | Includes 31 January, 28 February, and 19 March days |
| January 1, 2018 | Meteorological (March 1) | March 1, 2018 | 59 days | Includes 31 January and 28 February |
| February 1, 2018 | Astronomical (March 20) | March 20, 2018 | 48 days | Includes 28 February and 20 March days |
| February 1, 2018 | Meteorological (March 1) | March 1, 2018 | 28 days | Includes 28 February |
| March 1, 2018 | Meteorological (March 1) | March 1, 2018 | 0 days | Start of meteorological spring |
| March 1, 2018 | Astronomical (March 20) | March 20, 2018 | 19 days | Time until the March equinox |
Practical considerations for counting days
- Time zones matter: The equinox moment is stated in UTC. Your local date can be a day earlier or later.
- Leap years and month lengths: 2018 was not a leap year, so February had 28 days.
- Purpose of the count: Use meteorological dates for data and reporting; use astronomical dates for cultural or event planning.
Common uses for knowing days until spring 2018
People often want to know how many days until spring 2018 for gardening, training plans, travel, or school schedules. By aligning your start date with the correct seasonal marker, you can plan timelines more accurately. For project planning, convert target dates into day counts from a fixed reference, then track progress as the dates approach.
Key takeaways
Spring 2018 began on March 20 as the astronomical start and on March 1 as the meteorological start. From January 1, that is about 79 days until astronomical spring and 59 days until meteorological spring. Counting is straightforward if you define your start date, choose the correct spring definition, and account for months and days accurately. Use these steps whenever you need to compute or communicate time spans within a calendar year.