Why is today the beginning of winter?

It's not. December 21st (or so) is when the Solstice occurs. It is the 'Winter Solstice'. That is an astronomical event - nothing to do with the weather. BUT! The silly media has brainwashed the public for so many years - and the media includes the news papers & printers of calendars too.

NOAA and the World Meteorology Org. ALL agree and the official first day of each season begins on the 1st of the month. So, December 1st is the first day of winter. March 1st is the first day of spring.. etc, etc.

See: http://www.wmo.int/pages/index_en.html Tons of great info there!

And: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/When_is_the_first_day_of...

In Australia we start our seasons on the first of the month as it makes far more sense and makes seasonal calculations very much easier. Our summer started on 1st December. Autumn starts on 1st March.

Probably in England it's connected more with the climate, and that's about when the cold weather begins.

In the US, the "official" dates of the seasons have to do with astronomical events. There are many climates across the US. In some places it got cold well before Nov 1 and in some places it won't get cold at all.

I don't want to talk about it. I'm in so. Wisconsin USA about 50 miles west of lake Michigan

Everything is covered in ice, and we are suppose to get 8-9 inches of snow tonight.

I know I should have bought some beer. I'll be here for a while.

Im in England, and we still count today as the beginning of winter???

Because today is the day when the sun will be directly above the tropic of Capricorn. so in the northern hemisphere it's winter and in the southern hemisphere today is the first day of summer..