Autumn is a transitional season in every respect, from the end of the primary harvest season to the cooling temperatures and the changing leaves of the trees with their brilliant reds and yellows, we know it is fall, and that winter is just around the corner.
But climate change and extreme weather have stepped in and muddied our memories of what autumn should look and feel like, even though the calendar tells us it is fall.
Remember that fall, like spring, is a transitional time of the year, and this means that big changes can be expected, literally from one day to the next sometimes. This also means that a bout of cold weather may not necessarily last for too long, and for the next three months, above average temperatures will be the norm.
Three-month seasonal forecast for the United States
According to AccuWeather.com, the United States can expect near to above-normal temperatures to dominate the fall season all across the country this year. So don’t put away the sunscreen and short-sleeved shirts and shorts just yet.
Regions east of the Mississippi and west of the Rockies will more than likely see summer-like temperatures lingering well into the season, while in the middle of the country, near-normal fall temperatures, along with seasonal coolness will be the norm.
Canada three-month extended forecast
In Canada, the three-month forecast is calling for near to above seasonal temperatures to hang on through much of the season, stretching from the Great Lakes to Atlantic Canada. The prairie provinces will see fluctuating temperature swings which are expected to average out to near-normal when all is said and done.
British Columbia and Yukon will be experiencing above-normal temperatures along with above normal precipitation expected along Canada’s west coast. Chris Scott, Chief Meteorologist at The Weather Network says, “We are expecting a stormier weather pattern to develop as we progress through the season, which could mean an early taste of winter for many regions.”
Conditions that could influence our fall weather
We must remember that we are close to the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, and it is not over yet. NOAA says that atmospheric and oceanic conditions continue to be favorable for tropical storm development. And even the Atlantic hurricane season is somewhat dependent on what is happening in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.
Yes, we are talking about El Nino, which is now gone, and a return to near-normal conditions in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, which has just about knocked La Nina out of the picture for forming in the near future.
Sea surface temperatures (SST) along the coast of the northeast U.S. and all of eastern Canada are well above normal. Waters off the coast of the southeastern U.S., the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico are also showing SST anomalies, but not as large as northern SSTs.
Let’s just say that with fall’s arrival tomorrow, we will need to take it with a grain of salt, but maybe a glass of ice-cold lemonade might be better.
