Fall in Atlanta is getting warmer
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Fall is getting warmer across the continental U.S., a new analysis finds, including in metro Atlanta.
Why it matters: Warmer autumns mean more demand for cooling (and thus higher energy use), longer wildfire seasons, big changes for farmers and gardeners, etc.
Driving the news: Fall temperatures rose 3.1°F on average in metro Atlanta between 1970 and 2023, according to a new Climate Central report.
- The nonprofit climate research group's analysis is based on average temperatures across 234 locations between September and November of each year.
Zoom in: Albany led Georgia metros with the largest increase (3.8°F), followed by Atlanta, Columbus (1.7°F), Augusta (1.6°F) and Savannah (1.2°F).
Zoom out: Reno (+7.7°F), El Paso (+6.1°F) and Las Vegas (+6.1°F) saw the biggest increases in average fall temperature among U.S. cities.
Between the lines: The fall trends are consistent with climate science findings showing how the planet is responding to human-caused increases in greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide.
- All other seasons are also warming.
The latest: A record-smashing September heat wave recently hit the Western U.S. from Phoenix up to Seattle, Axios' Andrew Freedman reports.
What's next: Expect above-normal temperatures across much of the country this fall, per NOAA's seasonal outlook.