The autumnal equinox approaches. Here’s how quickly the metro-east will lose daylight

Meredith Howard
·3 min read
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Fall officially begins Saturday, and along with turning leaves, metro-east residents can expect shorter days.

The autumnal equinox will happen at 1:50 a.m. Central Daylight Time Sept. 23. Daylight saving time will end Nov. 5, and southwestern Illinois residents will then see the sun set before 5 p.m.

“There are only two times of the year when the Earth’s axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun, resulting in a ‘nearly’ equal amount of daylight and darkness at all latitudes. These events are referred to as Equinoxes,” the National Weather Service reports.

Although the coming weeks will bring less daylight across southwestern Illinois, Belleville residents can enjoy sunsets after 6 p.m. all the way through October.

How quickly will the days shorten in Belleville?

The “shortest” day of the year, or the day with the least amount of daylight, will be the winter solstice Dec. 21, according to the Old Farmers’ Almanac.

The days will gradually shorten throughout autumn. Here are some projected sunrise and sunset times for various dates in Belleville, from Time and Date, a Norway-based online world clock.

  • Sept. 30: 6:54 a.m. sunrise, 6:44 p.m. sunset

  • Oct. 15: 7:08 a.m. sunrise, 6:22 p.m. sunset

  • Oct. 31: 7:25 a.m. sunrise, 6:01 p.m. sunset

  • Nov. 15: 6:41 a.m. sunrise, 4:47 p.m. sunset (Daylight saving time ends Nov. 5.)

  • Nov. 30: 6:57 a.m. sunrise, 4:39 p.m. sunset

  • Dec. 21 (day of the winter solstice): 7:13 a.m. sunrise, 4:42 p.m. sunset

  • Dec. 15: 7:10 a.m. sunrise, 4:39 p.m. sunset

  • Dec. 31: 7:17 a.m. sunrise, 4:48 p.m. sunset

What kind of fall weather can you expect in the metro-east?

Residents of southwestern Illinois and St. Louis have roughly equal chances of seeing below- or above-normal temperatures and precipitation from September to November, according to forecasters with the NWS.

The NWS St. Louis office provides monthly climate data from 1991 to 2020. Here’s what to know about average fall weather in Belleville and St. Louis:

Belleville in September:

  • Average minimum temperature: 65.3 degrees Fahrenheit

  • Average maximum temperature: 89.1 degrees

  • Average overall temperature: 70.1 degrees

  • Total normal precipitation: 3.35 inches

Belleville in October:

  • Average minimum temperature: 46.7 degrees

  • Average maximum temperature: 72.6 degrees

  • Average overall temperature: 59.7 degrees

  • Total normal precipitation: 3.12 inches

Belleville in November:

  • Average minimum temperature: 36.9 degrees

  • Average maximum temperature: 58.1 degrees

  • Average overall temperature: 47.5 degrees

  • Total normal precipitation: 3.6 inches

St. Louis in September:

  • Average minimum temperature: 60.9 degrees

  • Average maximum temperature: 81.1 degrees

  • Average overall temperature: 71 degrees

  • Total normal precipitation: 2.96 inches

St. Louis in October:

  • Average minimum temperature: 49.1 degrees

  • Average maximum temperature: 69.2 degrees

  • Average overall temperature: 59.1 degrees

  • Total normal precipitation: 3.15 inches

St. Louis in November:

  • Average minimum temperature: 37.4 degrees

  • Average maximum temperature: 55.5 degrees

  • Average overall temperature: 46.5 degrees

  • Total normal precipitation: 3.42 inches