Summer is less than halfway through its official runtime, which runs from June 21 -- the summer solstice -- to Sept, 22 -- the fall equinox. So far, the season has brought sweltering temperatures and worsening drought.
While some enjoy the sunny heat, others are more than ready for the arrival of fall and the milder weather it typically brings.
Lucky for those folks, the Old Farmer's Almanac has already released its long-range predictions for fall 2026 in Wilmington.
So if you're getting eager for the next season to arrive, here's what the Old Farmer's Almanac says you can expect.
What will fall 2026 be like in Wilmington?
According to the Almanac, the Southeast -- the region that encompasses Wilmington -- will have a colder and drier fall than normal.
While the Almanac says that the interior
of the country will be warmer than average, a cooler fall is predicted for the eastern United States.
However, it might not be a dramatic change from year's past. The Almanac said it expects September and October to be around 1 degree Fahrenheit colder than normal on average.
According to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, the average temperature high in September is 83.9. In October, the average high is 76.1.
Less rain than normal is also predicted. For Southeastern North Carolina, the Almanac is predicting around 2 inches less rainfall than average.
Average rainfall is 8.69 inches in September and 4.66 inches in October, according to the weather service.
How does the Almanac make its long-range forecasts?
The Almanac says it relies on solar science, climatology and meteorology to make its predictions. More specific, the forecasters at the Almanac look at the Sun's activity, long-term weather patterns and atmospheric changes, then compare these factors with statistical averages from 1991 to 2020.
Charlie Kingree is the Pender County and trending topics reporter for the StarNews. He can be reached at ckingree@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Old Farmer's Almanac predicts cooler fall for Wilmington area
