When will the fall equinox arrive? What's the difference between an equinox and a solstice?
Fall in Florida doesn't arrive in a brilliant dash of color like it does elsewhere in the U.S.
In the fall, Florida residents usually are still battling each other for the shady parking spots and keeping a wary eye on the tropics
So as we look forward to the start of school in August and keep those hurricane supplies at the ready, here's a little "seasonal" knowledge.
What is the fall equinox?
Not to be confused by a Chevrolet SUV by the same name, the fall equinox marks the first day of autumn for the Northern Hemisphere, and first day of spring for the Southern Hemisphere.
What is an equinox?
There are two times of the year — in the spring and in the fall — when the Earth's axis is not tilted toward or away from the sun. This means we see a "nearly" equal amount of daylight and darkness. Those times are referred to as equinoxes, according to the National Weather Service.
At the equator, the sun is directly overhead at noon on the two equinoxes.
How is a solstice different from an equinox?
During the summer solstice, the sun is at its highest point in the sky, and this is the longest day of the year, according to the National Weather Service.
The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year.
Autumnal equinox: When will fall 2024 arrive?
The fall equinox, also known as the autumnal equinox, is when astronomical fall arrives. This year, it will occur at 8:44 a.m. EDT on Sept. 22, according to the Naval Observatory.
After the autumnal equinox, days become shorter as the sun continues to rise later and nightfall arrives earlier. This ends with the winter solstice, after which days start to grow longer once again, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.
Winter solstice: When will winter 2024 start?
The winter solstice occurs at 4:21 a.m. EST Dec. 21.
Fall won't mean cooler temperatures in Florida
According to early forecasts from the Climate Prediction Center, Florida is expected to see above-average temperatures the last three months of 2024.
Expect temperatures to remain above average for the first quarter of 2025.
La Niña, which increases the risk for a busy Atlantic hurricane season, usually means dry and warm winters in Florida, according to the National Weather Service and NOAA.
When are the busiest months of hurricane season?
The busiest months of the Atlantic hurricane season — which runs from June 1 through Nov. 30 — is mid-August through mid-October.
The peak time is Sept. 10, less than two weeks before the fall equinox on Sept. 22.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Fall equinox 2024 arrives Sept. 22. Here is the weather forecast
