DETROIT (WWJ) - It certainly doesn't feel like Michigan is on the cusp of autumn as temperatures soar to near 80 degrees on Friday, but summer is having it's last day in 2023.
However, if you ask a meteorologist, autumn already started and technically, both statements would be correct. Here's why:
ASTRONOMICAL FALL
The biggest difference in astronomical and meteorological fall is how they are determined. Astronomical seasons base their beginning and ending points on how the Earth moves around the sun, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) explains.
The majority of people were taught that fall begins with the autumnal equinox --which takes place precisely at 2:50 a.m. Saturday -- and marks the exact time the sun is directly over the Earth's equator, when the planet's axis isn't tilted toward or away from the sun.
There is also the same amount of daytime and nighttime worldwide during the astronomical event and occurs halfway between the winter and summer solstices.
Experts say astronomical seasons vary between 89-93 days.
METEOROLOGICAL FALL
Meteorologists and other climate experts acknowledge Sept. 1 as the official start of fall and doesn't base it on any astronomy events, NOAA added.
Instead, they (fittingly) go off of weather patterns.
Meteorologists break the year into equal, three-month seasons determined by annual temperature cycles -- spring starts on March 1, summer on June 1, fall on Sept. 1 and winter on Dec. 1.
Here's the breakdown:
• Winter – December, January and, February
• Spring – March, April and, May
• Summer – June, July and, August
• Fall – September, October and, November
Summer is the hottest time of year and winter, the coldest. Spring and autumn fall in the middle of those seasons. Each season lasts between 90-92 days with additional length determined by whether or not we are in a Leap Year.
But, no matter which date you celebrate the first day of autumn, pumpkin spice and football seasons is here.
