When does summer end? Date autumn 2026 will officially start and the Met Office long-range weather forecast

WITH August drawing to a close, millions of Brits are asking whether it is time to pack away the suncream or if summer still has one last trick up its sleeve. The official answer depends on whether you ask a meteorologist or an astronomer. Meteorologists have a fixed date on the calendar, while astronomers follow the movement of the Earth Credit: PA The Met Office’s long-range forecast predicts a mix of downpours, thunder, and late heat spikes across the UK Credit: Alamy Meteorologists have a fixed date on the calendar, while astronomers follow the movement of the Earth and stars. When does summer officially end? Summer‘s end – and autumn’s beginning – can have two start dates depending on whether you follow climate records or the night sky. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! There is no single “correct” answer as to which system you want to use to define the end of the season. Meteorological summer always starts on June 1 and finishes on August 31 – with meteorological autumn kicking off the very next day. Astronomical summer ends at the Autumnal Equinox – which in 2026 lands on September 23. What is Meteorological Summer? Meteorologists split the year into four equal seasons made up of three full calendar months each. Summer spans June, July, and August, drawing to a close on August 31. Autumn takes over for September to November, and winter closes out the year through December, January, and February, before spring covers March to May. Most read in The Sun By fixing these dates to months, weather forecasters and climate scientists can easily compare rainfall, temperature stats, and weather patterns. What is Astronomical Summer? Astronomical autumn is governed by the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. Astronomical Summer officially concludes at the exact moment of the Autumnal Equinox, when the Sun aligns directly above Earth’s equator. Daylight hours in the Northern Hemisphere actually begin shrinking right after the Summer Solstice in June. But as Earth moves along its orbit, its fixed axial tilt causes the Northern Hemisphere to receive progressively less direct sunlight, steadily shortening the days until day and night reach near-equal length at the equinox. Once this tipping point passes, nights become longer than days, causing temperatures to drop more rapidly as daylight hours continue to diminish. Because Earth takes roughly 365.25 days to complete its orbit, the exact calendar date of summer’s end shifts slightly every year. It almost always lands between September 21 and 24, and in 2026, will fall on Wednesday, September 23. When do the clocks change? The end of summer also brings the end of British Summer Time (BST). The clocks go back one hour on the last Sunday of October – in 2026, that’s Sunday, October 25 – returning the UK to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). While we lose an hour of evening daylight, the trade-off is an extra hour of sleep on Sunday morning and slightly brighter starts to the day. What is the Met Office’s long-range forecast? While meteorological autumn is around the corner, will it actually feel like the seasons are changing? The Met Office’s long-range forecast predicts a mix of downpours, thunder, and late heat spikes across the UK. The shift from August into September will bring unsettled conditions across much of the country. According to the Met Office, “an unsettled period is likely, with showers or longer spells of rain possible across many parts of the UK.” Heavy downpours are expected to break out widely, with the weather agency warning that “some heavy rain is likely, perhaps with some thunderstorms too.” Forecasters add that “rainfall amounts will probably be above average for the time of year and there is potential for some strong winds at times.” But despite the wet outlook, summer isn’t surrendering completely. The Met Office highlights that “some drier and more settled interludes could develop at times,” though these will likely be short-lived. Temperatures will remain near average overall, but “some short-lived warm or very warm spells are possible, especially in the south.” Heading further into September, changeable weather will continue before potentially settling into a drier, warmer spell. Forecasters expect a “continuation of the generally unsettled conditions at first with showers or longer spells of rain across many areas, perhaps heavy and thundery in places.” But a welcome turnaround could arrive later in the month. The Met Office says: “Further into September, drier weather may become more prevalent, especially in the south and southeast, with any more unsettled conditions tending to become more likely further north and northwest.” Temperatures are also tipped to climb as autumn approaches. While conditions will stay “near normal at first,” forecasters note temperatures “may become warmer later, with the possibility of some hot spells in the south.” Comment now