The "First Day" Of Fall: Everybody Has An Opinion, But I Approve

A classic September sky over Vermont Thursday morning.
Chilly looking clouds mix it up with a deep blue sky.

Thursday was the first truly autumnal day this season in Vermont.  Despite the fact that the weather confirmed that winter will arrive eventually, I sure did love the change in the air. 

I've always loved summer, and still do. The skies are the most interesting in the summer. It's nice to not worry about overcoats and boots and ice. And the long days and short nights suit me. No Seasonal Affective Disorder in July, right?

But as I get older, there are some slightly irritating things about summer. Especially the longer ones we seem to be having due to climate change.  I used to love to soak up the sun, but a skin cancer scare more than a decade ago prevents me from doing much of that. 

Plus, a medication I'm on makes me overheat easily on hot summer days. So it was sweet relief on Thursday working outdoors and not keeling over from heat exhaustion. I felt so energetic!

It was a classic September day, for sure. The first part of the day had the characteristic cold, scattered stratocumulus clouds overhead, with a chilly north breeze. The partial cloudiness gave way to a sunny, somewhat warmer afternoon that still had a distinct crispness. The kind that demands you go out and find an apple to eat. 

We're in that season now where we'll have a number of days like that. Today, in fact, will be similar to yesterday, at least in northern Vermont. A weak weather system was causing clouds and even a few sprinkles early this morning but that will get shunted south for clearing skies across Vermont.  

Last night's clouds kept temperatures warm enough to prevent frost anywhere in the region. Tonight, the cold hollows won't be so lucky.  I'm sure we'll see temperatures close to 32 degrees in places like Island Pond or Gallup Mills, up in the Northeast Kingdom. 

We've got some rainy weather coming up toward Sunday and early next week.  We're also plunging deeper into fall.  Soon, the comfortable coolness we had Thursday will start to get a little too nippy.  

As much as I loved Thursday's weather, it will keep getting darker and colder as we march inevitably toward winter, which frankly isn't my favorite season.. 

Frost will come into the picture. Possibly as soon as a week from now.  It's too soon to say, but frost might be a bit more widespread at that point than it will tonight.  Not everyone will see it, but it's something to watch. early as next weekend.