What Months Are The — Fall //top\\
When Exactly is Fall? A Guide to the Season of Change The air is getting crisp, the leaves are turning brilliant shades of orange and gold, and pumpkin spice is everywhere. But when can you officially
say it’s fall? Depending on who you ask—an astronomer, a meteorologist, or even a local in the Southern Hemisphere—the answer changes. The Two Ways to Define Fall Most of us mark our calendars by one of two systems: Astronomical Meteorological 1. Astronomical Fall (The "Official" Calendar)
This version is based on the Earth's position relative to the sun. It begins on the autumnal equinox , when day and night are almost equal in length. Nature's Calendar Northern Hemisphere: Starts around September 22 or 23 and ends around December 21 or 22 (the winter solstice). Southern Hemisphere: Starts around March 20 or 21 and ends around June 20 or 21 AccuWeather 2. Meteorological Fall (The "Weather" Calendar)
Meteorologists prefer a simpler system. They break the year into four three-month blocks based on the annual temperature cycle. This makes it much easier to track climate data from year to year. what months are the fall
National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (.gov) When does autumn start? - Nature's Calendar
The Golden Transition: When Exactly is Fall? When the air turns crisp and the first orange leaf drifts to the pavement, we all know the feeling—fall has arrived. But if you look at a calendar, the answer to "when is fall?" depends entirely on who you ask and where you are standing on the globe. The Two Ways to Measure Autumn
Most of us define the season in one of two ways: by the stars or by the thermometer. Why Meteorological Fall Starts Before Astronomical Fall When Exactly is Fall
The History of the Name: Why "Fall" vs. "Autumn"
To fully appreciate the months, it helps to understand the name. The keyword "what months are the fall" uses the American English term.
- Autumn: Derived from the Latin autumnus, this was the standard English term for the season from the 16th century onward.
- Fall: Originated in England in the 16th century as a poetic contraction of "Fall of the Leaf." While "autumn" remained dominant in Britain, the colonists who went to America kept using "fall." Today, "fall" is the standard term in the US and Canada, while "autumn" is slightly more formal or poetic.
So, when you ask for the "fall" months, you are literally asking for the months of the "falling of the leaves."
3. Wardrobe Changes
Fashion seasons are locked to the meteorological months. Retailers release "fall fashion" (sweaters, boots, flannels) in late August, and they disappear by December 1st. If you want to buy a fall jacket, you need to shop in September or October, not November. The History of the Name: Why "Fall" vs
Southern Hemisphere
- Astronomical fall: About March 20–21 through June 20–22 (from the March equinox to the June solstice).
- Meteorological fall: March, April, May.
Conclusion: So, When Is Fall?
If you ask a meteorologist "what months are the fall," they will confidently answer: September, October, and November.
If you ask an astronomer, they will say: From the Autumnal Equinox (Sept 22/23) to the Winter Solstice (Dec 21/22).
For the sake of daily life, planning vacations, changing your wardrobe, and enjoying pumpkin spice lattes, you should operate on the Meteorological calendar. Expect fall vibes to begin on September 1st and wrap up by November 30th. By the time December arrives, even if the sun says it’s still autumn, the snow and holiday music will tell you otherwise.
Now that you know exactly which months define the season, you can make the most of the crisp air, the falling leaves, and the final harvest before winter sets in. Enjoy the fall
The American Perspective
In the United States, fall is synonymous with the "Back to School" season (which now often starts in late August) and the arrival of Halloween and Thanksgiving.
- Perceived Start: The Tuesday after Labor Day (first week of September).
- Perceived End: The day after Thanksgiving (late November), when Christmas decorations take over.
