If you’d like, I can produce a longer, sourced article with historical, cultural, and scientific background or provide exact equinox/solstice dates for a specific year.
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The months considered "fall" (or autumn) depend on whether you are using a meteorological astronomical calendar, as well as which hemisphere you are in. Fall in the Northern Hemisphere (Includes the USA, Canada, Europe, and most of Asia) Meteorological Fall
: Consists of three full calendar months to make record-keeping easier. September, October, and November Astronomical Fall : Based on the Earth's tilt and orbit around the sun. Autumnal Equinox (typically September 22 or 23 Winter Solstice (typically December 21 or 22 The New York Times Fall in the Southern Hemisphere
(Includes Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and South America)
The Golden Transition: When Exactly is Fall? When the air turns crisp and the first orange leaf drifts to the pavement, we all know the feeling—fall has arrived. But if you look at a calendar, the answer to "when is fall?" depends entirely on who you ask and where you are standing on the globe. The Two Ways to Measure Autumn
Most of us define the season in one of two ways: by the stars or by the thermometer. Why Meteorological Fall Starts Before Astronomical Fall what months are the fall
The definition of fall (or autumn) depends on whether you use the meteorological calendar or the astronomical one. In the Northern Hemisphere, it generally spans from September through November or December. 1. Meteorological Fall
Meteorologists divide the year into equal three-month blocks based on the temperature cycle. This makes it easier to track and compare climate statistics year-to-year. Months: September, October, and November. Start Date: September 1st. End Date: November 30th. 2. Astronomical Fall
This is based on the Earth's position relative to the sun, specifically the tilt of the Earth's axis. Months: Late September through late December.
Start Date: The Autumnal Equinox, which usually falls on September 22nd or 23rd.
End Date: The Winter Solstice, which usually falls on December 21st or 22nd. 3. Southern Hemisphere Fall In the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are reversed. Autumn: a burst of colour - Met Office
So, what months are the fall?
In the United States, September, October, and November are generally considered the fall months. Astronomically, the season begins on the autumnal equinox (usually September 22) and concludes on the winter solstice (December 21). Nourishing NY Fall Seasonal Produce Overview
Fall is known as the "harvest season" because many crops planted in spring or summer reach full maturity. Peak produce during these months includes: Pure Wesson Oil : A transitional month where summer favorites like overlap with early fall arrivals like winter squash : The height of fall harvesting for cranberries pomegranates , and hardy root vegetables like : Focuses on late-maturing crops such as Brussels sprouts cauliflower Complete Produce List by Category Based on guides from the USDA SNAP-Ed Connection Farmers' Almanac
, here is a comprehensive list of what is in season during the fall: Vegetables Seasonal Produce Guide - SNAP-Ed Connection - USDA
Here’s a clear, concise write-up on the months of fall.
The core of the confusion lies in two professional standards used to define seasons.
1. Astronomical Fall (The Celestial Definition) If you’d like, I can produce a longer,
This definition is tied directly to Earth's orbit around the sun and its axial tilt. Seasons change not because of our distance from the sun, but because of the angle of sunlight striking the hemisphere. Fall begins with the autumnal equinox—the precise moment when the sun crosses the celestial equator from north to south. On this day, day and night are nearly equal in length all over the world.
Why use this? It’s precise, predictable on a cosmic scale, and has deep cultural and historical roots. For millennia, humanity has marked the equinoxes and solstices as pivotal moments.
2. Meteorological Fall (The Climate Definition)
Meteorologists and climatologists created this definition for practical reasons: consistent data recording. Astronomical seasons have variable start dates and lengths, making it difficult to compare monthly climate statistics (e.g., "average September temperature") from one year to the next. Therefore, they align the seasons with the calendar months and the annual temperature cycle.
Why use this? It’s simple, consistent, and perfectly aligns with monthly data collection, which is essential for climate research, agriculture, and long-range weather forecasting. In this system, December 1 is always the start of meteorological winter, the three coldest months of the year.
