Astronomical autumn begins following the equinox

The astronomical autumn has begun in the Northern Hemisphere following the equinox, which occurred at 3:05 AM. During the equinox, both hemispheres receive approximately equal amounts of sunlight and heat, resulting in nearly equal day and night lengths worldwide.

In Latvia, the day remains about ten minutes longer than the night on September 23, but the day will officially become shorter than the night starting September 26. Daylight continues to decrease rapidly through the second half of September, a trend that will persist until the winter solstice on December 21.

Regarding weather patterns, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts indicates that precipitation in Latvia will be significantly above normal this week, followed by drier conditions next week. October is also expected to be drier than usual, though temperatures may remain above normal. Due to El Niño, Europe is projected to experience warmer and wetter weather this autumn and winter, with an increased risk of floods and storms. In Latvia, an unusually high amount of rain and snow is possible during the winter months.