In the Northern Hemisphere, fall is generally defined as September, October, and November. However, the exact months depend on whether you are using the meteorological or astronomical calendar, as well as your location on the globe. The Quick Answer Northern Hemisphere Fall: September, October, and November. Southern Hemisphere Fall: March, April, and May. Blog Post: When Does Fall Actually Start?
The arrival of "sweater weather" and pumpkin spice is something many of us look forward to all year, but if you ask a scientist and a calendar maker when fall starts, you might get two different answers. Here is everything you need to know about the months that make up the autumn season. 1. The Meteorological Fall (The "Neat" Way)
For record-keeping and simplicity, meteorologists divide the year into four three-month quarters based on annual temperature cycles. Meteorological Versus Astronomical Seasons | News
When we ask the question, "What months are the fall?" the answer is surprisingly complex. It depends entirely on whether you are asking a meteorologist, an astronomer, or simply looking out your window to see the leaves changing color.
In the Northern Hemisphere (which includes North America, Europe, and most of Asia), the general consensus is that fall takes place during September, October, and November. However, the exact timeframe shifts depending on how you define the season.
Here is a breakdown of the different ways we determine the months of autumn. what months are the fall
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.
The word "equinox" comes from Latin, meaning "equal night." On the autumnal equinox, the sun crosses the celestial equator, resulting in nearly equal amounts of daylight and darkness (roughly 12 hours each) across the globe. After this point in the Northern Hemisphere, nights become longer than days until the winter solstice.
Fall (also called autumn) occurs at different months depending on whether you use the astronomical or meteorological definition, and on which hemisphere you’re in.
Everything above applies to the Northern Hemisphere (North America, Europe, most of Asia, northern Africa). Because the Earth’s hemispheres experience opposite seasons, the fall months in the Southern Hemisphere are reversed:
So, while someone in New York is raking leaves in November, someone in Sydney, Australia, is enjoying the flowers of late spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, fall is generally defined
The answer depends on whether you're following the meteorological definition (based on annual temperature cycles) or the astronomical definition (based on Earth's position relative to the sun). Here’s the breakdown:
1. Meteorological Fall (Used for climate records and forecasting)
2. Astronomical Fall (Based on equinoxes and solstices)
Quick Summary Table (Northern Hemisphere)
| Definition | Fall Months | | :--- | :--- | | Meteorological | September, October, November | | Astronomical | Late September – Late December (exact dates vary) | So, while someone in New York is raking
Which one should you use?
🍂 Tip: In the Southern Hemisphere, fall (called autumn) occurs during March, April, and May for both definitions.
So whether you’re chasing pumpkin spice or tracking equinoxes, now you know exactly when fall arrives.
It is important to remember that the seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere (countries like Australia, New Zealand, and parts of South America and Africa). Because the Earth is tilted, when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun (summer), the Southern Hemisphere is tilted away (winter).
Therefore, in the Southern Hemisphere, the months of fall are:
While Americans are celebrating spring in April, Australians are harvesting pumpkins and watching leaves fall.