What is the autumnal equinox?

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The first day of fall is upon us! 

The autumnal equinox took place at 8:44 am EDT this morning, marking the official start of the fall season.  

This is not our only equinox of the year; we have the vernal equinox that took place on March 20, in addition to the one that took place this morning. 

The word equinox means the sun will be located directly on equator at noon, and that the day will have an equally long day and night.  

On average for South Bend on the first day of fall, we have a high temperature of 73 degrees and a low of 53.  

Recently, our first day of fall has been drier in the past, only 2 out of our last 10 seeing measurable precipitation. 

South Bend will lose 3 hours and 42 minutes of daylight once fall ends, as we will lose on average about 2 and a half minutes of sunlight a day. 

Our first sunset that will happen before 7 pm is Oct. 17 and by Election Day the sun will set at 5:35 in the evening, thanks to daylight savings.  

Sun rises also begin to happen later in the morning after today, starting a full minute later from this point on. The sun will not rise until after 8 am starting Oct. 17. 

South Bend typically also sees its first measurable snowfall of the season during our fall season. Our typical first snowfall happens on average on Nov. 16. However, we have seen snow in the month of October! On Halloween last year, South Bend measured 1.4” of snow.