The Fall Equinox (2026)

Yes folks, it is officially fall! This is when the leaves start to turn beautiful colors and it finally cools down. Early to mid October is the best time for autumn colors in the northeast. We usually have to wait a bit longer (maybe until early November) down here in the southeast. The Old Farmer’s Almanac has a nice map showing when the fall colors peak in different parts of the country.

Fall Colors from Upstate New York & Vermont. Photo Credits: Ann Gavett & Jim Gavett.

Technically, we reach the autumnal equinox on Tuesday September 22 at 8:04 PM EDT. This is when the Sun, which follows a path called the ecliptic, crosses an imaginary line above the equator called the celestial equator. It is also the day when there is an equal amount of daylight and night. In addition, the Sun rises directly to the east and sets directly to the west. As a note, this is astronomical fall. Meteorological fall began on September 1. For more on this, see our previous article Leap Year, Solstice, Equinox, and Seasons.

Image credit: NOAA Office of Education/Kaleigh Ballantine

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