Why meteorological and astronomical fall start on 2 different dates
The September equinox is commonly considered to be the official start of autumn, but for meteorologists, the new season kicks off weeks before the astronomical event.
The official beginning of fall in the Northern Hemisphere is on Sept. 22, at 2:19 EST. AccuWeather’s Melissa Constanzer explains what happens during the autumnal equinox and why this event occurs.
The autumnal equinox marks the start of fall across the Northern Hemisphere, but meteorologists commonly consider a different date to mark the start of the new season.
Equinox comes from the Latin words aequi, which means equal, and nox, which means night. On the day of the equinox, the sun’s rays are most direct over the equator. No matter the location around the globe, the sun will rise exactly due east and set exactly due west.
Astronomical fall starts on the autumnal equinox, between Sept. 21 and Sept. 23, and ends on the winter solstice, between Dec. 20 and Dec. 22. These dates vary from year to year due to leap years and the elliptical shape of Earth's orbit around the Sun.
In 2026, the autumnal equinox falls on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 8:05 p.m. EDT.
While this equinox signals the start of astronomical fall across the Northern Hemisphere, those in the Southern Hemisphere recognize it as the first day of spring.
Traditionally, astronomical seasons last between 89 and 93 days due to the elliptical shape of the Earth’s orbit around the sun, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).
This variability can make it difficult for experts to compare statistics from one year to another.
Meteorological seasons are more consistent, with the four seasons being broken into groups of three months.
Meteorological fall lasts for 91 days every year, starting on Sept. 1 and lasting through Nov. 30.
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Meteorological spring is March, April and May.
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Meteorological summer is June, July and August.
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Meteorological fall is September, October and November.
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Meteorological winter is December, January and February.
“By following the civil calendar and having less variation in season length and season start, it becomes much easier to calculate seasonal statistics from the monthly statistics, both of which are very useful for agriculture, commerce and a variety of other purposes,” NCEI said.
One common misconception is that the equinox is the only time of the year when an egg can be balanced on its end.
"The origins of this myth are attributed to stories that the ancient Chinese would create displays of eggs standing on end during the first day of spring," John Millis, assistant professor of physics and astronomy at Anderson University said.
Although it is possible to stand an egg on end on the equinox, the trick can also be accomplished every other day of the year.
While autumn is known for its shorter days and cooler conditions, it also brings a heightened risk of severe weather.
The renewed severe weather risk is caused by a southern shift in the jet stream that directs powerful storms across the central and eastern United States. The severe weather is not typically as widespread as it is during the spring months, but storms in autumn can still spawn damaging wind, hail and tornadoes.
The frequency of severe thunderstorms gradually decreases near the end of the season as the Northern Hemisphere begins to transition to winter.
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