DayReckon

How many days until the first day of fall?

Astronomical fall, or autumn, in the Northern Hemisphere starts at the September equinox, when the Sun crosses the equator heading south. Here is the countdown to that day, with the exact time for each year.

The first day of fall is on Thursday, September 23, 2027.

Astronomical fall (autumn) in the Northern Hemisphere begins at the September equinox, on September 22 or 23 depending on the year and your time zone.

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The first day of fall dates for the coming years

EventDate (US Eastern)WeekdayExact moment
September equinox 2027September 23, 2027ThursdaySeptember 23, 2027, 06:01 UTC
September equinox 2028September 22, 2028FridaySeptember 22, 2028, 11:45 UTC
September equinox 2029September 22, 2029SaturdaySeptember 22, 2029, 17:38 UTC
September equinox 2030September 22, 2030SundaySeptember 22, 2030, 23:27 UTC
September equinox 2031September 23, 2031TuesdaySeptember 23, 2031, 05:15 UTC
September equinox 2032September 22, 2032WednesdaySeptember 22, 2032, 11:11 UTC
September equinox 2033September 22, 2033ThursdaySeptember 22, 2033, 16:52 UTC

The September equinox

At the equinox the Sun is directly above the equator and day and night are close to equal length everywhere. After it, nights are longer than days in the Northern Hemisphere until the March equinox. The date depends on your time zone and is usually September 22 or 23. The dates in the table are for US Eastern time, and the “Exact moment” column gives the time in UTC.

Fall or autumn?

Both words are correct. “Fall”, from the falling leaves, is the usual word in the United States and Canada; “autumn” is more common in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Meteorological autumn is September, October and November, so weather services count it from September 1.

Questions people ask

When does fall end?

At the December solstice, around December 21. See the countdown to winter.

Is the first day of fall always September 22 or 23?

For the years ahead, yes: September 22 or 23, depending on the year and your time zone. The table above lists the exact date and time for each year.

When do the leaves change colour?

It depends on latitude and weather. In the northern US and Canada, colours usually peak from late September to mid-October, and later further south.

Related questions

Reviewed October 24, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.