What is the official first day of fall 2024? What is the exact time?
The official start of autumn in Northern Hemisphere will soon be here with the arrival of the autumnal equinox. Here’s when summer ends and fall begins.
Due to the Earth’s tilt and orbit around the Sun the regions at higher latitudes experience seasonal changes. Every year, the calendar is marked by two equinoxes and two solstices, which mark the beginning of the seasons. The solstices correspond to winter and summer, while the equinoxes indicate the beginning of spring and fall.
In the Northern Hemisphere, where the United States is located, the winter solstice takes place in December, and the summer solstice in June. As for the equinoxes, the one for spring occurs in March, while the autumn one arrives in September.
Thus, given that it is September, the Northern Hemisphere is getting ready to say goodbye to summer and is about to welcome fall.
READ ALSO: Daylight Saving Time ends soon: When do we ‘turn back’ our clocks?
When does fall start in 2024? Date and time of the equinox
In 2024, the fall equinox in the United States will occur on Sunday, Sept. 22, at exactly 8:43 a.m. ET / 7:43 a.m. CT / 6:43 a.m. MT / 5:43 a.m. PT. The third season will then begin, lasting until Saturday, Dec. 21, when the winter solstice begins.
The seasonal change to fall at this time of year only affects the northern hemisphere, since in the southern hemisphere the seasons occur in opposite directions. While the United States welcomes fall, countries located in the southern hemisphere celebrate the arrival of spring.
READ ALSO: Amazon holds another Prime Day in October
With the arrival of fall, do we have to change our clocks?
After the spring equinox, the northern hemisphere tilts toward the sun, resulting in longer days and more sunlight. However, when the winter solstice arrives, the effect is reversed, resulting in fewer daylight hours.
To take advantage of natural light, the United States observes two time adjustments throughout the year: daylight saving time and standard time. Although summer ends on Sept. 22, daylight saving time continues for a few more weeks.
DST will not take place until the first Sunday in November. In 2024, the adjustment is scheduled for the early morning of November 3, at 2 a.m. This is when residents of most parts of the United States will have to set their clocks back one hour.