Summer breeze, makes me feel fine… (Picture: Getty)

It’s been hot, hot, hot all in the UK this June – with a heatwave and, for some of us, accompanying thunderstorms.

The South East of England and the capital, London, even hit 2023 highs of 30°C on Saturday, June 10 – topping the temperatures found in Marbella and Ibiza on the same day.

Despite the burst of warm weather, it’s technically not even summer yet by one definition – with the start of the sunny season just a few days away.

So, when does summer officially start, and how far are we from the longest day of the year?

Here is what you need to know.

When does summer start in 2023?

From an astronomical point of view, summer in 2023 officially begins on Wednesday, June 21 and lasts until Saturday, September 23.

Summer starts on June 21 this year – if you follow the astronomical date (Picture: Getty Images)

Summer 2024 will begin on Thursday, June 20, and end on Sunday, September 22 – with summer 2025 beginning on Saturday, June 21 and ending on Monday, September 22.

However, for meteorologists (weather forecasters), that isn’t the case – as they say summer has already begun.

The Met Office explains: ‘The meteorological seasons consist of splitting the seasons into four periods made up of three months each.

‘These seasons are split to coincide with our Gregorian calendar, making it easier for meteorological observing and forecasting to compare seasonal and monthly statistics.’

So, the meteorological start to the summer is June 1 and is fixed each year, with the summer months being June, July, and August.

When is the longest day of the year in 2023?

As well as being the start of summer, June 21 is also the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere – and is known as the summer solstice.

Solstices and equinoxes mark the key stages in the astronomical cycle of the Earth and, as such, aren’t fixed.

There are two equinoxes (spring and autumn) – and two solstices (summer and winter).

The summer solstice often invites many superstitions and traditional pagan ceremonies, including gatherings at Stonehenge.

Does the sunshine mean summer has officially arrived? Let’s find out!