When will it start to feel like fall in St. Louis?
ST. LOUIS - As summer winds down, many in the St. Louis region are wondering when the crisp air and cooler temperatures of fall will finally come.
According to FOX 2 Meteorologist Chris Higgins, the first true taste of autumn typically arrives between Sept. 10 and 20.
“Our first ‘fall cold front’ that drops the daily high temps into the 70s for a few days and overnight lows into the 50s or 40s usually arrives sometime in the September 10–20 timeframe,” Higgins said.
The last day with a normal high of 80 degrees or warmer is usually around September 20, though history shows that heat can last longer. Higgins says the latest 90-degree day on record in St. Louis occurred as late as Oct. 30, in 1950.
He also highlighted that by mid-October, overnight lows begin to be pretty regularly in the 40s, and the average first frost in St. Louis City typically arrives on Oct. 23. The first freeze follows around Nov. 2, with the first killing freeze—defined as a hard freeze capable of ending the growing season—usually occurring by Nov. 15.
Higgins also provided key dates for surrounding communities:
Location First Frost First Freeze First Killing Freeze STL Lambert Airport Oct 23 Nov 2 Nov 15 Chesterfield, MO Oct 9 Oct 19 Oct 31 Cahokia Heights, IL Oct 12 Oct 21 Nov 2 Farmington, MO Oct 9 Oct 18 Oct 26 Salem, IL Oct 14 Oct 25 Nov 6 Belleville, IL Oct 8 Oct 14 Oct 26
For those who cannot wait until the holiday season, St. Louis typically sees its average first measurable snowfall—defined as one-tenth of an inch or more— by Dec. 5. The first inch or more of snow usually falls around Dec. 21. Oct. 11, 1909, saw the earliest recorded snowflakes in the city, though they were not measurable.
While the calendar may still say summer, the start of the seasonal shift is just about a month away. Keep an eye on the weather—fall is coming.
