When is the first day of fall? Summer will end soon, but hot weather continues in Oklahoma
As August heat lingers on, many wonder when the next season will begin. However, you might be surprised to note there is more than one correct answer -- each season begins twice.
While astronomical seasons depend on the Earth's location in relation to the sun, meteorological seasons depend more on temperature and month-by-month averages, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Meteorological seasons each start on the first day of a month and go on for three months.
When is the last day of summer?
Astronomically, the last day of summer is Sept. 21 in 2024. As a meteorological season, the last day of summer is Aug. 31.
When is the first day of fall?
Astronomical fall is slated to begin at 7:44 a.m. CST on Sept. 22, 2024. On this day, the autumnal equinox signals the start of fall with its equal lengths of day and night. However, meteorological fall begins on Sept. 1 at midnight.
Why do we have seasons?
The Earth's tilt is responsible for the seasons we experience, as well as the reversed seasons between the Southern and Northern hemispheres. The tilt is exactly 23.5°, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This tilt affects how much sunlight each region of the Earth receives.
The Earth also revolves around the Sun, and this brings two key points: perihelion and ahelion. These are the technical terms for when the Earth is closest to and furthest away from the Sun.
Perihelion occurs in January, which means that the Earth is closest to the Sun during winter in the Northern Hemisphere. The Earth reaches ahelion during July, when the beaches are full in Florida.
More: When is summer solstice 2024? Here is when summer started this year
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: When does summer end in 2024? When will fall start?
