Autumn Equinox is here! Why Summer is officially OVER in 2023 today

It’s time to trade your T-shirts for sweaters and pour yourself a large Pumpkin Spice Latte – fall is officially here!

Today is the September equinox, also known as astronomical autumn.

The sun is directly above the equator and day and night are the same length: each about 12 hours.

For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, today marks the start of autumn.

Meanwhile, people living in the Southern Hemisphere will greet spring today.

There are two separate dates that can be said to mark the beginning of autumn: the astronomical autumn and the meteorological autumn.

Astronomical autumn begins today and is determined by the Earth’s axis and orbit around the sun.

“During an equinox, the sun shines directly over the equator, resulting in nearly equal amounts of day and night around the world,” NASA explains.

The only exceptions are the North and South Poles, where the sun is on the horizon for approximately the entire day.

Starting today, the sun will gradually rise later and set earlier in the Northern Hemisphere, making the days shorter and the nights longer.

The opposite is true in the Southern Hemisphere, where days begin to lengthen and nights become shorter.

Meanwhile, meteorological autumn is determined by annual temperature cycles.

‘Meteorological seasons are derived by dividing the year into four periods of three months each,’ explains The Met Office.

‘These seasons are split to coincide with our Gregorian calendar, making it easier for meteorological observations and forecasts to compare seasonal and monthly statistics.’

According to the meteorological calendar, we are already a month into autumn, with the first day of autumn always being September 1; ending November 30.

While the seasonal changes are always beautiful, experts at Forestry England say the combination of a rainy spring with June’s record temperatures has paved the way for a particularly ‘spectacular autumn show’.

Today is the September equinox, also known as astronomical autumn. The sun is directly above the equator and day and night are the same length: each about 12 hours

Data from the Met Office shows that this spring has been particularly wet, with rainfall in Britain 55 percent higher than average.

While this rain may have dampened the spirits of many Britons, it did wonders for the growth of Britain’s trees.

‘This abundance of rain has helped set the scene for a stunning display of colorful leaves in autumn,’ explains Forestry England.

‘This is because the rain provided the soil with sufficient moisture, which promotes strong and healthy growth.’

After this rainy spring, Britain basked in record-breaking heat in June, with temperatures reaching a daily average of 15.8°C – 2.5°C above average.

This sunny weather allowed British trees to bloom, Forestry England said.

“Plenty of sunshine has provided a good growing season for the country’s forests, helping them build up enough sugars that produce the stunning autumnal reds, golds and oranges when reabsorbed into the tree,” it explained.

‘Rather than following the usual pattern, early spring weather could lead to a more gradual and enchanting shift in leaf colors this autumn, creating a beautiful mix of colors that is truly unique.’

The arrival of autumn colors could also be influenced by the warm start to this month.

‘If temperatures remain high this could delay the onset of autumn and the subsequent color change of leaves,’ says Forestry England.

The leaves change color as the days shorten and temperatures cool, with the green chlorophyll beginning to disappear, leaving yellow and orange hues.

“So while the warm weather may slightly change the start of autumn, it can also extend it, giving people more opportunities to witness nature’s beautiful transformation,” Forestry England added.