North of the equator, fall begins in September; in the Southern Hemisphere, it starts in March. Find out exact dates and how the fall season is defined. Show
©iStockphoto.com/Songquan Deng According to the astronomical definition, fall begins with the autumnal equinox. In the Northern Hemisphere, it's the September equinox; south of the equator, it is the equinox in March. What is an equinox? Equinoxes and solstices in your city Alternative Fall Start DatesMeteorologists use a different method of defining the first day of fall. And, in some countries, the beginning of the seasons is determined by average temperatures rather than fixed dates or astronomical events. Meteorological and other seasons definitions Dwindling Daylight around the Fall EquinoxIn most locations on Earth—except for tropical regions—the start of fall is accompanied by rapidly shortening days. At any given location, the day-to-day difference in day length is greatest around the days of the equinoxes. After the fall equinox, days still get shorter, but at an ever-decreasing rate. On the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice, the day-to-day difference reaches zero. At the same time, locations closer to the poles experience larger day-to-day differences. In Toronto, the day of the fall equinox is just under 3 minutes shorter than the previous day; in Miami, roughly 2000 kilometers or 1200 miles farther south, the difference is only about 1 minute and 30 seconds. Day-to-day differences in your city ©timeanddate.com Equal Day and Night?Astronomical fall begins on the day of the equinox. The name of the event derives from Latin and means equal night, giving the impression that both day and night are exactly 12 hours long. However, that is not entirely true. In most regions, the day of the equinox is a bit longer than 12 hours. EquiluxThe date when day and night are actually equal is called the equilux. It falls a few days before the spring equinox and some days after the fall equinox in both hemispheres. Other astronomical terms & definitions Falling TemperaturesIn the temperate zone, in particular, fall is also the time when the warm, stable weather of summer gives way to colder, more erratic weather conditions, though this varies substantially from one region to another. Climate and monthly average temperatures in your city Traditions and FolkloreThe start of autumn and the fall equinox are celebrated in cultures and religions around the world with various fall traditions, holidays, and festivals. Fall festivals: Mabon, Navaratri, and the Snake of Light Fall MonthsIn the Northern Hemisphere, astronomical and meteorological autumn runs from September to December. South of the equator, it starts in March and ends in June. Read more about the history and meaning of the fall months: Northern fall monthsSeptember | October | November | December Southern fall monthsMarch | April | May | June How Long Is Fall?The Earth does not move at a constant speed in its elliptical (oval) orbit, so the seasons are not of equal length. On average, fall lasts for 89.8 days in the Northern Hemisphere and 92.8 days in the Southern Hemisphere. Average season lengths: Fall or Autumn?Both fall and autumn are correct English terms for the season preceding winter. Autumn is primarily used in British English, while fall is a term more frequently used in American English.
Fall inches closer as summer fades out, with September marking the season's official return to the Chicago area. The autumnal equinox, also referred to as the September or fall equinox, signals the shift between the two seasons. The first official day of fall will arrive at 8:04 p.m. Sept. 22 for the Northern Hemisphere, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. The equinox marks the point when "daytime and nighttime are roughly equal in length," according to Chicago's Adler Planetarium. The planetarium also noted that the sun will rise later and set earlier throughout the month following the equinox. As the hours of sunlight lessen, signs of fall will begin to emerge. According to the almanac, leaves start to change colors and drop due to the amount of daylight and photosynthesis, rather than weather conditions, such as temperature. Sept. 22 also will mark the appearance of the Chicagohenge, the city's celestial event that happens only twice a year. According to the planetarium, the Chicagohenge showcases the point when the sun directly lines up with Chicago’s east- and west-facing streets. Chicagoans will be able to see the phenomenon until Sept. 25, the planetarium said.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the astronomical Start of Fall is on September 22, at 3:21 P.M. EDT. This day is also known as the Autumnal Equinox. Fall is the transitional season between Summer and Winter. In 2021, Fall will last from September 22 until December 21, which is when Winter starts. What is the Autumnal Equinox?The Autumnal Equinox is also known as the Fall or September Equinox, and it happens when the Sun crosses the celestial equator towards the South. This event marks the start of Fall in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of Spring in the Southern Hemisphere. In Latin, Equinox means "equal night". On the day of the Autumnal Equinox, day and night are roughly the same lengths. After the Autumnal Equinox, the days start to get shorter and the nights get longer, as the Sun rises late and sets early. Learn more about the Autumnal Equinox. Characteristics of FallWith the transition from Summer into fall, the temperatures start getting colder, and the days become shorter. The change in weather and sunlight affects vegetation such as plants and trees, whose leaves start turning red, orange, or yellow before they shed. While Fall is usually a cold month, some states in America don't really experience the change in temperature, as is the case of California and Florida, where it remains a moderate 72°F. However, some states are picture-perfect during fall, with foliage turning into beautiful shades of reds and oranges. It is also during fall that some of America's favorite activities take place, such as pumpkin picking, country fairs, and hiking. Fall Traditions, Customs and AssociationsThe start of Fall, and specifically the Autumnal Equinox, is a reason to celebrate in many cultures and religions all over the world. One of the most important events that happens with the arrival of Fall is the Harvest season. Since ancient times, people have been welcoming the harvest season with traditions, rituals and festivals. The most significant celebration tied to the harvest season in the United States is, of course, Thanksgiving. Those of Jewish faith also celebrate Sukkot during this period. In the United States, pumpkins and apples are often associated with Fall, as this is the perfect season to harvest them and use them. The popularity of pumpkins during fall is also tied to the popular holiday of Halloween. On this day, people carve scary faces and designs into pumpkins, dress up in costumes, decorate their homes and go trick or treating. Even though Halloween is only celebrated on October 31st, people start getting ready for it much earlier, closer to when Fall starts. Start of Fall dates from 2021 to 2026
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