Color has begun to spread throughout the foliage here in Central New York. A sure sign that fall is right around the corner. If that’s not enough of a sign then you might think this weekend’s drop in temperatures is. After a four day heat wave, a cold front came through Friday evening and cooler air is rushing into the area. This process is aided by the leftovers of Hurricane Earl quickly moving off into northeastern Canada. Temperatures this weekend will be holding in the 60s, so break your sweaters out of storage. We’re going to see enough cool air to fire up the lake effect machines off of the Great Lakes. Rain of course, still much to warm for the lake snow we are known for here in Syracuse.

  If you want to get technical about the start of the fall season, here are some dates to remember. Meteorological fall began back on September 1^st and runs for three months through the end of November. The unofficial end to summertime is generally considered to be Labor Day weekend. It’s that time of the year when people close up their swimming pools for the season and kids head back to school here in Central New York. When then is the “official” starting of fall? That would be the Autumnal Equinox which this year will fall on Thursday, September 23 at 11:09pm (yes, pun intended). The equinox is when the direct or perpendicular rays of the sun cross the equator.