When is autumn 2021 and when is the first day of winter?

family playing in the autumn leaves — Autumn is around the corner (Picture: Getty)

While summer 2021 has been a disappointment, to say the least, cosy autumnal nights are around the corner.

And though we haven’t had weeks of consistent sunshine, temperatures did peak at a sizzling 31°C in July.

Thankfully, the rain held off in England as festivals were in full swing over the bank holiday weekend with highs of 24°C, but the grey skies are back and autumn is right around the corner.

If you’re wondering when to retrieve your knitwear from the back of your wardrobe, we’ve got everything you need to know about when autumn and winter begin.

When is the first day of autumn 2021?

There are two different dates that mark the beginning of autumn. One is the astronomical autumn date, measured by the earth’s orbit around the sun, while the other is meteorological autumn.

The latter was decided by splitting the Gregorian calendar into the four seasons we know as spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

Trees line the canal in Little Venice, London — The leaves will soon be turning brown as autumn arrives (Picture: Alexander Spatari via Getty)

Astronomical autumn 2021 begins on September 22 and ends on December 21. It changes yearly, so be prepared for a different date next year.

However, meteorological autumn always falls on 1 September and ends on 30 November.

So, if you’re not ready to bid farewell to summer just yet, it may be best to adhere to the astronomical date.

There’s also an autumn equinox on Wednesday, September 22 where day and night will last for roughly the same length of time. The date changes annually, so keep your eyes peeled for the exact date.

The equinox is deduced by the sun crossing the equator’s path and being located exactly above it.

The bad news is following that, you can expect the sun to begin setting earlier day by day with nights lasting longer than the days.

When is the first day of winter?

Like autumn, there are two dates that the first day of winter falls on. Astronomical winter begins on Tuesday, December 21 2021, and ends on Sunday, March 20, 2022.