The science behind the changing colors of autumn
You know it’s fall when the leaves change color… but why does this happen?
You may have noticed some leaves changing color and falling off. You may have noticed the sun is now setting around 7:30 p.m. You may have noticed temperatures are a little cooler, especially in the morning.
These are signs that autumn is approaching. But when does autumn actually begin? And what kind of weather can we expect?
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When is the first day of autumn?
The first day of fall, also known as the autumnal equinox, is Sunday, September 22, at 8:44 a.m. ET.
While the equinox is considered the astronomical beginning of a season, there is another method to measure the change of seasons. The meteorological beginnings of seasons are based on the annual temperature cycle and the 12-month calendar.
According to this definition, each season begins on the first day of a particular month and lasts three months. This means that meteorological summer ended on August 31 and autumn began on September 1, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
What is the autumn equinox?
The Almanac explains that during the Autumn EquinoxDay and night are approximately the same length and each last about 12 hours.
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What does equinox mean?
The word equinox comes from Latin. Aequus (equal) and nox (night) directly describe the event that occurs twice a year at the beginning of autumn and spring.
When does it get cooler in North Carolina?
The Old Farmer’s Almanac has been predicting the weather since its inception in 1792. The almanac’s long-range weather forecasts provide 12-month predictions for the entire country.
The almanac predicts below-average temperatures in Western North Carolina and across the state. As for the specifics of the forecast, Accuweather’s monthly forecast for September showed high temperatures in the Asheville area starting in the mid-80s and falling to highs in the low 70s toward the end of the month.
In October, temperatures drop steadily, with highs of just over 21 degrees Celsius at the beginning of the month to just over 16 degrees Celsius at the end of the month.
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How much rain will there be in North Carolina this fall?
As for precipitation, the Old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting above-average rainfall in WNC this fall. So far, Accuweather has forecast rain for three days in September and seven days in October.
For the rest of the state, the almanac predicts near-average precipitation. As always, this forecast is subject to change as weather events unfold.
How does the Old Farmer’s Almanac make predictions?
The Old Farmer’s Almanac uses a “secret formula” to predict the weather. Its website says it uses solar patterns and historical weather conditions as well as current solar activity to make its predictions. It also says it uses three disciplines to make long-term predictions:
- Solar science, the study of sunspots and other solar activities.
- Climatology, the study of prevailing weather patterns.
- Meteorology, the study of the atmosphere.
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How accurate is the Old Farmer’s Almanac?
The Old Farmer’s Almanac claims an 80% accuracy rate for its predictions, although one study found that the predictions are correct only 52% of the time.
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected].
