2024 Fall Package

Analysis of 242 U.S. cities shows that fall temperatures have increased by an average of 2.5°F since 1970, with the most intense warming occurring in the Southwest. This trend is characterized by a higher frequency of above-normal temperature days, which prolongs risks related to heat-related illness, wildfires, and allergies, while also affecting agricultural growing seasons and energy demand for cooling.

• Fall temperatures have risen across nearly all analyzed U.S. cities since 1970, with an average increase of 2.5°F in 234 of the 242 locations studied. The warming is most pronounced in the Southwest, where average fall temperatures increased by 3.8°F, followed by the Northern Rockies & Plains at 3.1°F.
• The frequency of unusually warm fall days has increased in 233 cities. Approximately 80% of analyzed locations now experience at least one additional week of warmer-than-normal fall days compared to 1970, and 97 cities experience at least two additional weeks.
• The five cities with the highest fall warming since 1970 are Reno, Nevada (7.7°F), El Paso, Texas (6.1°F), Las Vegas, Nevada (6.1°F), Tucson, Arizona (5.6°F), and Phoenix, Arizona (5.4°F).
• Prolonged fall warmth extends the duration of summer-related risks, including heat-related illness for children and outdoor workers, higher energy costs and emissions due to increased cooling demand, and a longer, more intense allergy season.
• Warming trends contribute to longer wildfire seasons, particularly in the western U.S., where regions of Nevada, California, Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Montana experience at least 14 days of fall fire weather. Additionally, warmer temperatures extend the growing season, which can benefit some crops but also increase pest populations and water stress in the West and Southwest.

APA

Climate Central (2024). 2024 Fall Package. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/2024-fall-package

Chicago

Climate Central. 2024 Fall Package. 2024. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/2024-fall-package.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Central |title=2024 Fall Package |date=28 August 2024 |url=https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/2024-fall-package |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatecentral20242024, author = {{Climate Central}}, title = {{2024 Fall Package}}, institution = {Climate Central}, year = {2024}, month = aug, url = {https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/2024-fall-package}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }