After a taste of fall-like weather in North Carolina, what will meteorological fall hold for us?

Summer is still ongoing, technically, but meteorological fall begins soon! It consists of the months of September, October and November.

Astronomical fall and meteorological fall are different. Autumn officially begins on Sept. 22, 2022. For record-keeping purposes, it's easier for meteorologists to look at seasons as three-month periods.

La Niña conditions are present and are expected to continue through the end of the year. That affects fall and winter precipitation and temperature trends. La Niñas are often associated with drought conditions in certain parts of the country. The Southeast is one of those areas vulnerable to drought conditions during La Niña years.

The three-month precipitation outlook shows no strong indication for precipitation one way or the other in most of North Carolina. However, the mountains have a slightly better chance of seeing drier-than-normal conditions.

In terms of temperature, North Carolina, along with most of the U.S., could be warmer than normal over the next few months.

It's important to remember that "above-average temperatures" does not necessarily mean extreme heat. For example, Central North Carolina typically averages temperatures in the low 80s for highs during September. So, seeing an 88-degree day would be considered above average.

One of the best things about fall is the change in the leaves! Beautiful colors arrive before the leaves fall. Temperatures and precipitation can influence the progression of leaf color. With the outlooks trending somewhat warmer and possibly near average for precipitation, the likelihood for vibrant fall foliage is good! 

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