When is the first day of fall in Wisconsin?
It may not seem it with temperatures forecast to hit 80 degrees all week in Milwaukee, but the first day of fall is less than two weeks day.
In fact, it probably won't feel like fall for almost another month. Here's what to know about the upcoming autumnal equinox and when fall weather and foliage will hit Wisconsin.
When is the first day of fall in Wisconsin?
The first day of fall is Sept. 22, 2024 — but don't expect crisp temperatures and a rainbow of foliage as soon as late September hits.
The National Weather Service is forecasting warmer-than-normal temperatures through the rest of the month, and fall foliage colors won't peak until late October in southern Wisconsin and the Milwaukee metropolitan area. Chillier fall weather is also not expected to settle in until mid- to late-October.
More: When Wisconsin fall colors are expected to peak in 2024
What is the autumnal equinox?
The autumnal equinox is what marks the first official day of fall. In late March, the vernal equinox marks the first day of spring.
The equinoxes are the "only two times of the year when the Earth's axis is tilted neither toward or away from the sun," according to the National Weather Service. On these days, the hours of daylight and darkness are of equal length, and the sun is directly above the equator at noon.
In the winter and summer, the solstices in June and December mark the longest and shortest days of the year, respectively. This year, daylight savings time will end on Nov. 3, and Wisconsin will see its shortest day and longest night on Dec. 21.
When is the autumnal equinox in Wisconsin?
In the northern hemisphere, the exact moment of the equinox is 8:44 a.m. EDT on Sept. 22. In Wisconsin, that's 7:44 a.m. CT.
In the week leading up to the equinox, a larger-than-normal supermoon will also rise over Wisconsin. The September full moon, or "harvest moon," gets its name from the official start of the fall harvesting season.
More: Tired of pumpkin spice lattes? Check out the fall menus at local Milwaukee coffee shops
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: When is the first day of fall and autumnal equinox in Wisconsin?
