Spring is the best isn’t it? Sure there might be the occasional shower, but when it’s good there’s no better time to take a hike, appreciate the blooming gardens, or indulge in refreshing drinks at the city’s patio bars. However, this year, spring will be brief, as summer is forecasted to arrive earlier than it has in the past 128 years.
As per the Farmer’s Almanac, summer will officially commence in North America at 3:51 pm CDT on June 20. This coincides with the summer solstice, also known as the June solstice, when the Sun follows its most northerly path across the sky.
This event occurs when the Earth reaches a point in its orbit where the North Pole is tilted maximally towards the Sun. Consequently, this results in the longest day (with the most hours of sunlight) and the shortest night of the year. During the June solstice, the Northern Hemisphere receives sunlight at its most direct angle for the entire year.
The publication highlights that this upcoming summer will mark the earliest onset in the last 128 years. Additionally, the first day of summer will coincide with the magnificent appearance of a Strawberry Moon.
Despite common belief, including our own, that the start of summer consistently falls on June 20, the Almanac clarifies that this isn’t entirely accurate.
“The timing of the June solstice is not based on a specific calendar date or time; it all depends on when the Sun reaches its northernmost point from the celestial equator. Therefore, the solstice won’t always occur on the same day. Currently, it shifts between June 20, 21, and 22.”
Regarding Texas’s summer forecast, meteorologists anticipate sizzling heat, high humidity, and frequent rainfall. The Farmer’s Almanac suggests that Texas will endure blistering temperatures, particularly in August, accompanied by stormy weather. Additionally, the publication warns of the potential formation of a hurricane along the Gulf Coast towards the end of August.