DALLAS — When is summer over? Well, technically, it depends on who you ask.
Meteorological summer vs. Astronomical summer
Meteorologists consider summer ending on Aug. 31. However, the official end of summer is Sept. 21 with the fall equinox occurring on Sept. 22.
Why do meteorologists have a different definition of summer?
Simply, it makes it easier to calculate averages and follows the annual temperature cycle more closely. The date of equinoxes and solstices can vary year to year, which makes calculating things like average of temperature and precipitation harder for meteorologists to do.
Also, meteorological seasons are more closely related to temperature. For example, the winter solstice does not happen until well into December, but in a good portion of the U.S. and the world, winter temps and winter precipitation has very much arrived. The first several weeks of December are much more "winter-like" than "fall-like."
But when will the summer heat end?
Eventually!
But seriously, September usually starts to really bring changes back to North Texas. As we start to lose more daylight, temps can cool, cold fronts return and disturbances bring back rain chances.
After ending August with a normal high of 93°, the normal high drops to 84° by the end of September.
Of course if you've spent any amount of time in North Texas you know September can still be hot at times. In fact, DFW averages at least one 100° day during the month of September and 90s are very possible. Humidity during September can also make it feel hotter.
Simply put, by September, it is much harder to get very hot temps along with streaks of very hot weather. If you want true fall weather, that usually doesn't arrive in North Texas until October.
