The Autumnal Equinox: What to expect in the coming weeks

Change is in the air (literally!) as the end of Summer will align with a cooldown for the first days of Fall. The season takes us through most of December, but the most notable changes in our days will happen in October and November.

Fall Arrives:

The Autumnal Equinox will occur at 8:43am on Sunday, September 22nd. This seasonal benchmark is more commonly known as Astronomical Fall, when the sun is directly over the equator and there’s roughly equal daylight across all latitudes. And of course this signals the inevitable move toward cooler temperatures and shorter days.

Average Temperatures Dip:

As we move through October we continue to lose daylight each day, but the sun angle continues to decline as well. This 1-2 punch brings a noticeable drop in average temperatures as colder airmasses to our north strengthen and move south with more frequency. In the Salisbury area, average highs at the beginning of the month are in the mid 70s. But by the start of November the average dips into the mid 60s…and by month’s end, average highs are in the mid 50s. The beginning of November is roughly the average first frost for Salisbury, but this can happen earlier in October, especially in interior Delmarva away from the influence of the ocean and the Chesapeake Bay.

Earlier Sunsets:

Long gone are the sunsets after 7pm. In fact, the sun will be setting closer to 6pm by the end of October. When we “Fall Back” an hour on November 3rd to mark the end of Daylight Saving Time, the Salisbury area will have sunsets before 5pm for most of the month!