Some incredible rainfall totals have been reported from Southeastern New England – especially the Cape and Islands – over the past several days. Matt Noyes shares some of the reports from the SKYWARN Spotter Network and turns the page to our Monday…which will still feature minor coastal flooding for a few, an onshore wind with big waves, but little if any rain expected. Oh…and welcome to fall! Here’s a little more about the Autumnal Equinox of earlier today:
The autumnal equinox marks the moment when the sun is directly over the equator, resulting in nearly equal amounts of daylight and darkness across the globe. The word “equinox” comes from the Latin words aequus (equal) and nox (night), symbolizing that today, most locations around the world experience roughly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night (in Boston, for instance, we had 12 hours, 8 minutes and 20 seconds of daylight today…we’ll cross below 12 hours this Wednesday, September 25).
This year, the autumnal equinox occurred today, Sunday, September 22, at 8:43 AM ET. At this exact time, the sun crossed the celestial equator, moving from the northern hemisphere into the southern hemisphere. From now until the winter solstice in December, days will gradually grow shorter, and nights longer, as the Northern Hemisphere tilts further away from the sun.
The Earth’s axis is tilted at an angle of about 23.5 degrees, which is why we experience different seasons throughout the year. As the Earth orbits the sun, different parts of the planet receive varying amounts of sunlight. During the equinoxes—both in autumn and spring—the Earth’s tilt is perfectly aligned so that the sun shines directly on the equator, creating equal day and night across the globe.
After the autumnal equinox, the sun’s rays continue to hit the Earth at a lower angle in the Northern Hemisphere, resulting in cooler temperatures and shorter days as we move closer to winter.
For those in Boston, the autumnal equinox signals a notable shift in the daylight we enjoy. As of today, September 22, Boston will see about 12 hours and 9 minutes of daylight. But as fall progresses, the days will get shorter, and by the final day of autumn, December 20, 2024, Boston will have just 9 hours and 4 minutes of daylight. That’s a loss of about 3 hours and 5 minutes of sunlight!
That means from today through the end of autumn, the sun will rise nearly 40 minutes later and set a full 2 hours and 27 minutes earlier, resulting in much shorter days as we head toward winter.
For those of us in New England, the autumnal equinox is a signal that cooler weather is on the way. It’s also the start of many seasonal traditions, from fall foliage viewing to apple picking and pumpkin spice everything. As daylight decreases, you’ll notice the temperature dropping, and those crisp, cool mornings and evenings becoming more common.
And, of course, with fall comes New England’s famous fall foliage season! Thanks to the equinox’s cooler nights and sunny days, the leaves are already starting to turn, with vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows expected to light up the landscape in the coming weeks.
The autumnal equinox has long been celebrated as a time of balance and transition in many cultures around the world. In some parts of the world, it signals the end of harvest season, while in others, it’s seen as a time of gratitude and reflection.
As we move further into fall, the days will continue to shorten until the winter solstice on December 21, 2024, when we’ll experience the shortest day and longest night of the year. After that, the days will begin to lengthen again as we head toward spring.
For now, it’s time to embrace the cozy sweaters, fall foliage, and pumpkin-spiced everything that makes autumn such a special season in New England. Whether you’re planning a weekend foliage drive, enjoying local harvest festivals, or simply soaking up the cooler weather, the autumnal equinox is your official invitation to get into the fall spirit!
For more seasonal updates and detailed, daily weather forecasts, continue to visit us here at 1DegreeOutside.com or use Noyes’ 1DegreeOutside mobile app!
