The spring equinox has arrived for those in the Northern Hemisphere. This occurs when the Earth’s axis and orbit align, enabling both hemispheres to receive an equal amount of sunlight. On the equinox, day and night last almost an equal amount of time. The word equinox comes from two Latin words that mean equal and night, and it can occur on March 19, 20 or 21, depending on the year. Meteorological and astronomical seasons define two different ways to differentiate the year, with meteorological seasons based on the weather and astronomical seasons based on how the Earth revolves around the sun. The U.S. government’s national outlook predicts wet weather that will ease drought conditions in the western parts of the country, while much of the southern and eastern U.S. may experience warmer than usual temperatures this spring.