You'll Fall in Love with First Day of Autumn Weather (and Then Some)

As fall officially begins, don’t pack away the flip-flops and say goodbye to the beach just yet. (Photo by Bermi Ferrer via Flickr)

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Summer is a stubborn one. Fall officially arrives at 4:21 a.m. Wednesday, but it’s going to feel more like summer.

Expect some patchy fog before 11 a.m., but it will lift and skies will be sunny with a high near 77. The pleasant weather will stick around for the next week or so, according to the National Weather Service.

AccuWeather.com says the early-summer-like weather will continue into October, making for nice days to enjoy one of Michigan’s many cider mills, working in the garden without worrying about frost or attending a Detroit Tigers game. (The Tigers take on the Chicago White Sox at 1:08 p.m. Wednesday, then begin a three-game home series against the Minnesota Twins Friday.)

Accuweather meteorologist Brian Lada said Metro Detroit is on track to finish the September with less than half the normal rainfall. As of Tuesday, Detroit had only received 1.12 inches of rain.

Also on Patch

• Fall Color Outlook for Michigan: Be Patient
• 8 Local Cider Mills Offer a Taste of Fall: Family Bucket List

So, what is the autumnal equinox exactly? Here’s your science lesson:

It’s when the Sun appears to cross the celestial equator — a circle in the celestial sphere halfway between the celestial poles — from north to south, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

During the equinoxes, the Sun’s motion undergoes the most rapid changes, resulting in variations in the position of the Sun on the horizon. Where Sol rises and sets can change from day to day.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac also has a bit of folklore about Michigan’s slow-to-turn leaves this season. According to an old weather proverb, “If autumn leaves are slow to fall, prepare for a cold winter.”

More likely, though, it’s a lack of wind and rain needed to loosen the leaves from their branches.