Fall has officially arrived in the Northern Hemisphere, marking the time for pumpkin spice, Halloween festivities, and leaves to begin changing color.
The fall season, according to the astrological calendar, began on Sept. 22 and will last through the winter solstice on Dec. 21. During this period, the National Weather Service is calling for above-normal temperatures in the Mid-South.
Although fall has officially begun, the Mid-South is still experiencing high temperatures and humidity levels. This unseasonably warm weather is consistent with recent predictions from the weather service, which expects the heat to persist for the time being.
Rather than focusing on the temperature, here’s what the upcoming season offers in terms of foliage and climate.
When do leaves change colors in West Tennessee?
The Old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting that the Mid-South’s fall foliage will peak between late October and early November. While the color of leaves may begin to change sooner, the peak of leaf color change will occur in late October.
The best days to look for fall foliage are days when it is not rainy or windy, but is lightly overcast, which some say improves the color display of the leaves. Peak foliage typically lasts for around 10 days at any given location, but there is no exact science to identify it.
How cool will fall be?
The start of fall is bringing in warmer-than-normal weather for much of the Southeastern United States. In the Mid-South, temperatures are projected to have a 60% to 70% chance of being above normal from Sept. 29 through Oct. 7.
According to AccuWeather, the first week of fall, Sept. 22 to 26, temperatures are in the mid-80s to upper 70s. Temperatures are expected to remain around 80 degrees through the first week of October before starting to drop into the low 70s.
Temperature outlook for Monday, Sept. 29 through Friday, Oct. 3 in Memphis. Courtesy of the National Weather Service.
What will fall 2025 be like in Memphis?
Unfortunately, the Mid-South is not expected to receive much relief from the heat this fall, which lasts from Sept. 22 to Dec. 21. The Old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting a warm and dry fall season for the entire state. The almanac lists the South as a region that can expect warmer-than-average weather this time of year.
“September and October will be warmer than normal, with below-average rainfall,” The Old Farmer’s Almanac writes.
The South is predicted to have an average temperature of 64 degrees in October, which is about one degree above normal, and 1.5 inches of rain, 1.5 inches below normal.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts that temperatures in West Tennessee from October to December have a 33% to 60% chance of being above normal. The organization also expects the Mid-South to experience below-normal precipitation amounts.
When does it usually cool off in Memphis?
Memphis typically begins its journey into lower temperatures in late August, with the peak daily high dropping from 92 degrees to 91 degrees. After that, temperatures should start to drop steadily, as the average temperature in September ranges from 80 degrees at the start to 71 degrees at the end of the month, when fall begins.
When examining astrological fall, the normal daily maximum temperature starts at 90 degrees on Sept. 1 and finishes at 57 degrees on Nov. 30.
In Memphis, the average temperature in October is 64.6 degrees, with a total normal rainfall of 3.98 inches. November in Memphis has an average temperature of 52.7 degrees and a total normal rainfall of 4.69 inches. December has an average temperature of 44.8 degrees and a total normal rainfall of 5.49 inches.
Jordan Green covers trending news for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jordan.green@commercialappeal.com.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Fall arrived in the Mid-South. Here’s what to know about the weather