Our fall season begins Sunday
Randy Mann.
JAKE PARRISH/Press
After a very hot August and early September, conditions across the Inland Northwest have finally felt more like fall over the past week. Until last Thursday, only 0.82 inches of moisture fell for the summer season that began in late June. However, a strong storm system dropped 0.74 inches of rain Sept. 12, almost as much for the period from June 20 through Sept. 11. Our seasonal precipitation for 2024 total has climbed to around 15 inches, still below the normal level of nearly 17 inches to date.
The storm system also brought in much cooler temperatures to the region last Thursday. After a high temperature of 96 degrees Sept. 7, it was only 69 degrees Sept. 12. For the first nine days of this month, the average high in Coeur d’Alene was a hot 91 degrees, compared to a normal high of about 78 degrees.
Speaking of fall, astronomical fall arrives Sunday, Sept. 22, at 5:43 a.m. As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, we have four seasons because the earth is tilted on its axis by approximately 23.5 degrees. During the summer, our planet is tilted toward the sun, resulting in longer daylight hours and a higher sun angle. As we’ve moved farther into September, the daylight hours are becoming noticeably shorter. Next Sunday, the event also known as the autumnal equinox, the entire planet will experience approximately 12 hours of day and night.
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