When is summer over? Autumn approaches. What to know about the changing of the seasons

The signs of autumn's approach are starting -- students are returning to school, college students in Ohio are moving into their dorms , football season is approaching and the weather is turning a bit colder from time to time.

So, how much summer do we have left? Here's a look.

When is the first day of fall?

One of two dates marks the change of the season, depending on who you ask, according to the Farmer's Almanac :

• First is the astronomical start date, based on the position of the Earth around the Sun.
• Second is the meteorological start date, based on the 12-month calendar and annual temperature changes.

This year, summer ends and fall begins at 8:44 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22, according to the astronomical date. That's when the autumnal equinox happens in the Northern Hemisphere. According to the meteorological start date, the seasons change on Sunday, Sept. 1.

What is the autumnal equinox?

The Earth experiences two equinoxes each year, in the spring and fall. They occur when the Earth's axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun, resulting in a nearly equal amount of day and night across the planet, according to the National Weather Service .

After the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, the nights will get longer and longer and the days shorter and shorter until the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice.

What's the fall and winter weather forecast for Ohio?

This fall is looking cool and dry, according to the Farmer's Almanac forecast, as the Cincinnati Enquirer previously reported . Come winter, the almanac forecasts cold and wet conditions, becoming coldest in late January and early February.

What causes the seasons?

The seasons are caused by the Earth's axis and its relation to the sun, according to the National Weather Service .

During summer, the Earth's axis is tilted toward the sun, resulting in longer days and more exposure to the sun's warming rays. In winter, the situation is reversed. The Earth's axis is tilted away from the sun, creating shorter days and less exposure to the sun.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: When is summer over? Autumn approaches. What to know about the changing of the seasons