CAMBRIDGE, Ohio—(AVC News)—When does Fall start? Depends upon who you ask.
Many say Labor Day marks the end of summer, ergo, the beginning of Fall, while others point to cooler temperatures and the changing leaves.
However, there is more than one definition for Fall, and when it actually begins.
Astronomical: The Autumnal Equinox
Based on the astronomical definition of seasons, the autumnal (Fall) equinox marks the first day of fall. This is a major astronomical event as the Sun crosses directly above Earth’s equator, marking the official start of astronomical autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere.
This year, the Autumnal Equinox, in the Northern Hemisphere takes place on September 22, 2026 at 8:05 pm EDT.
A note here; some sources say 8:04 pm, while other say 8:06 pm and yet others say 8:05 pm. This is likely due to the mathematical rounding of various astronomical formulas. (For this story, the author chose the middle ground of 8:05 pm.)
The word “Equinox” essentially means “equal”. In this case, day and night are nearly equal in length across the globe. On September 22, you may notice that the Sun rises precisely due east and sets precisely due west. If you are wondering, there is a Spring Equinox, as the sun starts moving northward. That next takes place at 4:24 pm EDT on Saturday, March 20, 2027.
There are however, two other descriptions and definitions for state of Autumn.
The start of Fall, Phenologically speaking
The Phenological description for Fall is based on changes in plants, animals, and local weather. This view says Fall starts when leaves change color and drop from trees, and begins when daily temperatures consistently drop below normal summer highs.
However, this description can vary widely by region and local climate.
Meteorological Fall
In the world of Meteorology, the start of Autumn always starts on September 1 and ends on November 30 in the Northern Hemisphere, and is based on annual temperature cycles and the calendar. Meteorologists split the year into four precise three month blocks for more accurate record keeping. Spring: March 1 to May 31, Summer: June 1 to August 31, Autumn: September 1 to November 30 and Winter: December 1 to February 29 or 29 for the Northern Hemisphere, and the exact opposite for those in the Southern Hemisphere.
No matter when you decide when Autumn starts, many enjoy the change in the weather, decorating, fall events and the seemingly, pumpkin flavored everything, all the while, cherishing this all too brief season as we head towards winter.
