SOUTH BEND, Ind -- The first two weeks of September are likely to cooler than normal, with a few days falling shy of 70 degrees. However, the long-term outlook for Fall is another warm season. South Bend has not recorded a cooler than normal fall season since 2018. Last fall, 2024 was one of the warmest on record, finishing in the top 5.
The outlook doesn't mean 80 will last through the fall, temperatures will get cooler over time, but 80s could still occur into October as they have in recent years, and 70s through Halloween. When you look at the list of average highs/lows the outlook predicts more days with temperatures above the mark for those dates.
The warm season is lasting longer. Since 1970, we've had an increase in 5 more days of above normal temperatures. This has been the primary driver in pushing the later change in fall color. Peak fall color is now a week or more later than it was thirty years ago.
This trend is not isolated to Michiana. The warm season is lasting longer everywhere as the climate continues to warm.
