September marks the beginning of a gradual cooling trend across the UAE, with temperatures expected to ease as autumn sets in.
Dubai: The UAE entered meteorological autumn on Tuesday, September 1, marking the end of the summer season under the meteorological calendar and the beginning of a gradual decline in temperatures in the months ahead.
Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Astronomical Society and a member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences, said meteorological autumn in the Northern Hemisphere begins on September 1 and continues through the end of November.
Meteorological seasons are defined primarily by typical temperature patterns and correspond with calendar months, making them useful for climate monitoring and reporting.
The shift does not, however, mark the beginning of astronomical autumn. In the UAE, the season will officially begin on September 23 with the autumnal equinox, when the Sun crosses the celestial equator from north to south. The 2026 equinox is expected to occur at around 4.05am UAE time.
Al Jarwan said September typically brings a noticeable easing of the summer heat. While daytime temperatures remained around 42°C or higher for much of the summer, most days in September are expected to see highs below 39°C. Overnight temperatures are also expected to become more comfortable, with lows forecast to fall below 27°C.
The cooling trend is expected to become more noticeable in October, when daytime highs could fall below 35°C on most days and overnight lows below 22°C. By November, temperatures are expected to drop further, with daytime highs below 30°C on most days and overnight readings falling below 18°C, Al Jarwan said.
By the end of meteorological autumn, temperatures across the UAE could generally fall below 26°C during the day and 15°C at night, marking a significant shift from the intense heat experienced during the summer months.
The distinction between meteorological and astronomical seasons allows climate agencies to track and compare weather patterns over fixed three-month periods. Astronomical seasons, meanwhile, are determined by the Earth’s position relative to the Sun and the timing of the solstices and equinoxes.
