Whether it’s pumpkin lattes, football, the State Fair of Texas, sweater weather, or bird migration, fall means something different to everyone—and the beginning of fall is also up for debate.
The meteorological autumn begins on September 1st and lasts until the end of November.
Many people recognize the first day of fall as the autumn equinox, which this year falls on Sunday, September 22. This is how fall is recognized astronomically – based on the position of the sun in the sky. The length of daylight is 12 hours. After that, the days get shorter until the winter solstice.
Beyond that, opinions differ.
For some, fall begins after Labor Day weekend or when school starts. For others, fall doesn’t begin until the first Dallas Cowboys regular season game or the first corny dog turns golden brown in the fryer at the State Fair. And many others in North Texas believe that fall isn’t really here until the first cold front rolls through.
When autumn comes, meteorologists Tthe Dallas Morning News with whom he has spoken in the past agree on:
- The meteorological autumn lasts from September to November.
- The autumn equinox is the astronomical beginning of autumn.
- Autumn is all about cold fronts.
According to the weather service, North Texas doesn’t usually experience the first real cold front of the season until the second half of September. The first frost usually comes on November 22nd. Next question: When is Thanksgiving?
