By admin 
Fall has officially started.
The September equinox marks the beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere — and the arrival of the shortest days of the year.
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With a new season now underway, much of California can expect cooler temperatures and “above-normal precipitation,” forecasters say.
Here’s what to know:
When is the official first day of fall in 2026?
The fall equinox in the Northern Hemisphere typically takes place between Sept. 21 and Sept. 24, History.com said.
In 2026, the autumnal equinox is on Tuesday, Sept. 22 in the Northern Hemisphere, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
The fall equinox will fall on Thursday, Sept. 23, in 2027.
What is an equinox?
“During an equinox, the sun crosses what we call the ‘celestial equator’ — an imaginary extension of Earth’s equator line into space,” The Old Farmer’s Almanac said.
The equinox occurs when the sun’s center passes through the imaginary line from the north to the south.
Day and night are about equal in duration, the almanac said.
The name “equinox” means “equal night” in Latin.
Why do days get shorter after fall equinox?
In the Northern Hemisphere, the North Pole starts to tilt away from the sun shortly after the fall equinox.
“After the autumnal equinox, days become shorter than nights as the sun continues to rise later and nightfall arrives earlier,” the Old Farmer’s Almanac said.
Days start to become longer on the winter solstice, which falls on Monday, Dec. 21 in 2026.
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While the Northern Hemisphere is experiencing the start of fall, the Southern Hemisphere is beginning spring.
How quickly will California lose daylight?
After the autumnal equinox, days will progressively get shorter.
The day after the fall equinox, California will lose two minutes and 12 seconds of sunlight, according to Date and Time.
By the end of June, the state will lose 17 minutes and 35 seconds of daylight.
California will have lost one hour, 22 minutes and 57 seconds of daylight by Halloween, Oct. 31.
By the winter solstice, the Golden State will have lost two hours, 21 minutes and 41 seconds of daylight since the September equinox, according to Date and Time.
When will the sun rise and set on the fall equinox?
On Tuesday Sept. 22, Earth will be perpendicular to the sun at 5:05 p.m., marking the official fall equinox, according to Time and Date.
The sun will rise at 6:50 a.m. Tuesday, while sunset will be at 6:59 p.m.
Californians will experience 12 hours, eight minutes and 31 seconds of sunlight on Tuesday.
See sunrise, sunset times for fall 2026
On Saturday, Sept. 26, Californians will experience nearly equal amounts of daytime and nighttime, with 11 hours, 59 minutes and 32 seconds of daylight, according to Time and Date.
Following the fall equinox, here’s when sunrise and sunset will take place each Monday through December:
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- Sept. 28: 6:55 a.m sunrise, 6:50 p.m. sunset
- Oct. 5: 7 a.m. sunrise, 6:40 p.m. sunset
- Oct. 12: 7:06 a.m. sunrise, 6:31 p.m. sunset
- Oct. 19: 7:12 a.m. sunrise, 6:22 p.m. sunset
- Oct. 26: 7:18 a.m. sunrise, 6:14 p.m. sunset
- Nov. 2: 6:25 a.m. sunrise, 5:06 p.m. sunset
- Nov. 9: 6:31 a.m. sunrise, 5 p.m. sunset
- Nov. 16: 6:38 a.m. sunrise, 4:55 p.m. sunset
- Nov. 23: 6:45 a.m. sunrise, 4:52 p.m. sunset
- Nov. 30: 6:52 a.m. sunrise, 4:50 p.m. sunset
- Dec. 7: 6:58 a.m. sunrise, 4:50 p.m. sunset
- Dec. 14: 7:03 a.m. sunrise, 4:51 p.m. sunset
- Dec. 21: 7:07 a.m. sunrise, 4:54 p.m. sunset