Fall begins Tuesday; what does that mean for the Gulf Coast?

We will officially welcome fall on Tuesday, September 22, on the autumnal equinox. Autumn commences at 8:04 p.m. on September 22. This is based on the Earth's position and tilt with regard to the sun. The Earth is tilted around 23.5 degrees. That causes unequal amounts of daylight to fall on the Earth at different times of the year. The varying daylight manifests itself through shifting sunrise and sunset times. During the equinox, we see equal amounts of daylight and darkness at every latitude. That is because the Earth is neither tilted toward nor away from the sun. This only happens twice a year: the first day of fall and the start of spring. We can expect to enjoy around 12 hours of daylight on Tuesday, during the autumnal equinox. Tuesday marks the official start of fall; however, meteorological fall began on September 1. Once fall is here, what does that mean for the Gulf Coast? As fall enters, so do earlier sunsets. The sun will cross the horizon at 7:23 p.m. Tuesday evening. By October 15, the sunset shifts into the 6:00 hour. After we change our clocks in the fall, the sunset climbs even earlier. The earliest sunset in Fort Myers occurs in late November to early December at 5:34 p.m. These times could be changed if the Sunshine Protection Bill were passed. It is a bill that aims to make daylight saving time permanent. It has been passed in the House and is awaiting action in the Senate. The temperatures may have missed the autumn memo. Above-average temperatures are set to linger through the beginning of next month. We typically have to wait until the middle of October to see our final 90-degree day of the year. However you watch or scroll, we're committed to delivering your Gulf Coast Weather Most Accurate Forecast, one you can rely on every day, wherever you are. Live Interactive Radar: Track conditions in real time with the Gulf Coast Live Radar. Watch Gulf Coast Weather: Find the latest weather forecast videos, streaming live or on demand, on TV and online. Stream on the Go: Download the free Gulf Coast News app to watch on your phone or tablet. Your Gulf Coast Weather Team Chief Meteorologist Allyson Rae Meteorologist Caroline Castora Meteorologist Jim Dickey Meteorologist Lauren Hope Meteorologist Raphael Tavernier Meteorologist Rob Duns Meteorologist Sara Blue Follow on Social: Follow, like and subscribe to Gulf Coast News on social media to share your tips and be part of the conversation with Southwest Florida's most experienced, trusted weather team: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | Threads | Bluesky | Nextdoor | X DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest breaking news and weather alerts. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.