WELCOME TO METEOROLOGICAL FALL...

September 1st marks the beginning of fall - meteorological fall, that is. And it certainty felt like it! Meteorological seasons are based on temperature trends where the astronomical seasons are based on the positioning of the Earth. Here's an explainer by the National Weather Service:

The Fall equinox will occur September 22nd this year.

During September temperatures average the upper 70s in the beginning of the month and by the end of the month the average highs are near 70. We also lose 2 mins and 45 seconds of daylight per day.

Late September into early October is when those 30s become more common overnight and we enter frost/freeze season:

There aren't signs just yet of any freezing temperatures. Here's the temperature trend the next 10 days for Cedar Rapids:

And trend for the Quad Cities:

Temperatures are expected to be near and above normal for much of the month:

It'll be a while before it starts happening, but when temperatures cool down (especially into October) the leaves will start to change color:

And here's the science behind those colors:

But we'll be feeling like fall for now!

Rebecca Kopelman