Understanding the difference between astronomical and meteorological fall

You may have noticed people discussing “fall” before the autumnal equinox has occurred.

That’s because astronomical and meteorological fall follow different cycles.

Meteorological Fall

Meteorological fall is a fixed period from September 1 to November 30.

Meteorologists use this system as it is simpler for record-keeping and weather analysis. With meteorological fall spanning these three months continuously, comparing trends from year to year is easier.

This structure also helps climatologists track long-term weather patterns, such as average temperatures or rainfall, because they can rely on a predictable, uniform time frame.

Astronomical Fall

Unlike meteorological fall, the Autumnal Equinox date can vary slightly each year because the Earth’s orbit isn’t perfect. While this marks