Discover the best rides to admire the fall foliage this year
Pack your hiking boots and your pumpkin spice coffee! We’re hitting the road to highlight some amazing fall getaways from USA TODAY’s 10 Best team.
Scott L. Hall, USA TODAY
It’s almost that time of year again when the evenings get darker earlier and the items at your local home decor store come in shades of gold, red and orange.
Symptoms of this time of year include the urge to pick apples and cravings for pumpkin lattes—although in some parts of California, you might opt for an iced one instead of a hot one.
Autumn is coming. Find out when it is autumn and when you need to change your clocks.
When does autumn 2024 begin?
The first day of fall in the Northern Hemisphere is Sunday, September 22. The start of the season is marked by the autumnal equinox, but if you hear a different date mentioned, it may be the meteorological start, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, which is based on the annual temperature cycle and the 12-month calendar. The meteorological start of fall is September 1.
What is the autumn equinox?
The fall equinox is one of only two times of the year when “there is nearly equal amount of daylight and darkness at all latitudes,” according to the National Weather Service. That’s because of the refraction of sunlight, which causes the sun to appear above the horizon when it is actually below the horizon, the NWS said. The other equinox is the vernal equinox, which ushers in spring.
When does it start to get cold in California?
Californians who like to wear their beanies and scarves may have to expect even higher temperatures this fall. The Old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting warmer than average temperatures for parts of the country, including California, this fall. However, this fall could be wetter, as the almanac is predicting above-average rainfall for the season for much of the state. The Old Farmer’s Almanac says it correctly predicts the weather about 80% of the time.
When does daylight saving time end?
Daylight saving time began on March 10th. when people set their clocks one hour ahead of standard time to make better use of sunlight in the evening. It became the national standard in 1966 through the Uniform Time Act. to save energy. Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 3rd.
Shall we change the time again?
In California, after daylight saving time ends, the clocks must be changed again and set back one hour.
Paris Barraza is a trends reporter covering California for The Desert Sun. Reach her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @ParisBarraza.
