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For everyday conversation in North America and Europe, if you say “fall” or “autumn,” most people will assume . That’s the meteorological standard, and it has become the de facto common answer. The astronomical definition feels too awkward (December as fall?) and the cultural one too vague.
| Definition | Northern Hemisphere | Southern Hemisphere | |------------|--------------------|--------------------| | Astronomical | Late Sept to late Dec | Late March to late June | | Meteorological | Sept, Oct, Nov | March, April, May | | Cultural (U.S.) | Sept through Nov | (varies by region) | | Phenological | When leaves turn and air chills | When leaves turn and air chills | what months are in fall
Ask a dozen people what months belong to fall, and you might get a dozen different answers. For some, the season begins the moment the calendar flips to September 1st. For others, it doesn’t truly start until the autumnal equinox, when day and night stand in perfect balance. And for a surprising number, fall is measured not by dates or astronomy, but by the first crisp bite in the air or the sudden blush of a maple leaf. For everyday conversation in North America and Europe,
Most national weather services (including NOAA in the U.S. and the Met Office in the U.K.) use this definition. If you check a long-term climate report, fall always means September through November. Then there’s the way people actually live the seasons. Cultural fall often ignores both equinoxes and meteorological convenience. | Definition | Northern Hemisphere | Southern Hemisphere