Happy second day of fall, Californians, and never mind the fact that the leaves near you may still be green or the temperatures may be more reflective of summer.

The season began on Monday, Sept. 22, marked by the autumnal equinox.

The autumnal equinox occurs when the center of the sun crosses the celestial equator, or an imaginary line extending Earth’s equator into space, according to NASA and the Old Farmer’s Almanac. An equinox occurs twice a year, the first of which ushers in spring.

Why Do We Have Seasons?

We have seasons because Earth is tilted on its axis as it orbits the sun, said NOAA. For example, the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere is when this part of Earth reaches its greatest possible tilt toward the sun, said NOAA. Meanwhile, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, making it the start of winter for this region of the planet.

When Does Fall end? Here’s When Winter Starts

The winter solstice is on Sunday, Dec. 21 in the Northern Hemisphere, which marks the start of winter.

What Is a Solstice?

A solstice, which occurs twice a year and is associated with the start of summer and winter, is when Earth is the most tilted toward or away from the sun, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory.

When Does the Time Change?

Daylight saving time comes to an end at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2, when we “fall back” and set our clocks one hour back.

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Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Fall is here, Californians. When does winter start in 2025?
Reporting by Paris Barraza, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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