Fall Foliage With TR27: First Fall Outing (09.18.25)

First Fall Outing

Update 18 of the 2025 season of Fall Foliage With TR27

09.18.25

Today was the first day since last fall that I actually did a fall activity, and that was apple picking! However, with lots of sunshine and temps in the lower 80s, it felt more like summer, but then again, it IS technically summer until the 22nd. By this point, we SHOULD be cooling down but the fall cooldown is NOT here and it's nowhere to be found, in fact, it looks like going into the beginning of October, it is going to get WARMER. I'm sorry, WHAT?! Yeah, we're totally screwed in terms of the climate but hey, enjoy the nice weather!

Here's the summary and fall foliage pics below:

For today, day 18:

High: 85°F

Average: 72°F

(+13)

Let's take a look at the highs in the 2nd half of September (16-30) in 2023, 2024 and 2025 (Sep 16-18 actual highs, 19-30 expected highs) so you can see what I'm talking about. We'll keep it simple so no colorized highs or anything like that, just the highs each day between Sep 16-30 in '23, '24 and '25.

Sep 16-30, 2023:

74, 78, 66, 72, 73, 73, 72, 59, 60, 60, 66, 69, 71, 53, 64 (notice what happened right around the equinox? Aside from the blip that was the 71-degree day, temps crashed HARD. They shouldn't crash THAT hard, but they sure as hell shouldn't be as stable as they are in '25 right now!)

Sep 16-30, 2024:

84, 80, 82, 87, 73, 69, 72, 67, 68, 65, 69, 79, 78, 68, 79 (the pattern attempted to crash as it should, but temps kept going back to summer levels! In '25, this got WAY worse.)

Sep 16-30, 2025:

Actually, let's do the entire month. This month has had temps STABLE aside from a couple blips and those blips lasted only a day or so, before temps went back up.

Sep 2025 (entire month):

In this scenario, I will use both the highs logged from the PWS in Easthampton, MA that I use as a record keeping database (it was started in 2021) and the official highs kept at Westover AFB. Sep 19-30 will indicate currently expected highs in Easthampton, MA by The Weather Channel. *Denotes high at Barnes AFB (Westfield, MA) **Denotes high at PWS

Now for the highs:

75*, 81, 81, 83, 85, 85, 67, 75, 75, 77, 80, 77, 78, 82, 81, 77, 77, 83 (today), 77, 71, 72, 76, 81, 76, 73, 73, 76, 74, 74, 74.

See the problem? The temps did NOT crash! They MIGHT'VE on September 7, but right after that, the temp returned to the 75-85°F range and STAYED there and is STILL stuck there between 70 and the low 80s. What is this, Labor Day weekend on repeat for the entire month?! 🤣🤣🤣😬

Those were the official highs recorded at Westover between Sep 2-18 (Barnes AFB on Sep 1 since Westover was taking a vacation Labor Day weekend!) and the expected highs for Sep 19-30 in Easthampton, MA.

Now let's redo this with the PWS's highs, and not ONCE has it faltered, unlike Westover. The highs will be significantly different, but that's because it's a PWS, not an official weather station, but it tends to read close to the actual highs, with a margin of error up to ±5°F. Sep 1-18 are max PWS readings and Sep 19-30 are expected highs by The Weather Channel for Easthampton, MA.

75, 84, 81, 80, 82, 82, 68, 77, 77, 80, 82, 80, 79, 81, 85, 78, 78, 85 (today), 77, 71, 72, 76, 81, 76, 73, 73, 76, 74, 74, 74

See the problem? Temps are STAYING in the 70s, and from the upcoming forecast into early October, it looks like instead of heading towards the 60s and 50s like highs SHOULD be doing going into October, they're going back towards the 80s with highs in the upper 70s expected by early October!

The expected forecast from 9/19-10/2:

9/19: ⛅ 77/43

9/20: 🌤️ 71/41

9/21: ⛅ 72/44

9/22: ⛅ 76/56

9/23: ⛅ 81/59

9/24: ⛅ 76/56

9/25: ⛅ 73/54

9/26: ⛅ 73/55

9/27: 🌥️ 76/55

9/28: 🌧️ 74/50 (33%)

9/29: ⛅ 74/51

9/30: ⛅ 74/51

10/1: ⛅ 77/50

10/2: ⛅ 78/50

Fall lovers: I'm sorry, but the wait shall continue! October is not only looking like it will stay warm, but it is looking like there will be a WARMUP in early October - notice as the highs approach 80 early October!

Summer lovers: You're having probably the best year ever when it comes to beautiful weather, but it is definitely overstaying! Enjoy it while it lasts, but from the looks of it, it looks like "it lasts" will be another half month AT LEAST!

Here's the main pic and fall foliage pics taken today, 9/18/25:

The trees on the campus are reaching peak! At least these ones anyways, and this is GORGEOUS! We're finally starting to see REAL fall foliage progress, but it is still quite early and the weather is still behaving like it's Labor Day weekend on repeat, so it'll be a bit, but when it does come, it will be fabulous per early expectations!

This is starting to look awesome! 🤩🤩🤩

Hello, Park Hill Orchard, Easthampton, MA's best gem for apple picking and fall treats!

Considering the weather was about 81-82°F at the time, it was PERFECT for an apple cider slushie! However, going apple picking when it's 80+ degrees outside doesn't exactly match the fall vibe, especially when most trees are still "dressed" like summer!

I took these pics in the sun, but yes, I had an amazing time!

This was a major update for obvious reasons, but tomorrow looks like it will be a bit cooler, so still warm but not sweating weather. It will be a nice cool fall weekend, but after that, it gets warm again! I can't believe I'm saying this now, but Sep 20 & 21 is going to be a false fall period! I know you're probably thinking HOW that could be false fall at this point in the season, but given the rest of the forecast is 70+ degrees and lows at night are between 50-60°F and that 9/20 & 9/21 will be "only" low 70s (maybe not even 70 on 9/20, but it might touch 70) with lows at night in the low 40s (potentially upper 30s), this weekend is going to be a false fall period, though I wouldn't usually call ANY weather "false fall" this close to the equinox, that term dries up REALLY quickly after Labor Day!

It looks like REAL fall weather will not come until at least October, but how far into October? Certainly not the beginning of it from the forecast we currently have! Will it even cool down by Columbus Day weekend? The leaves are changing colors but the temps are staying at summer levels. What in the CLIMATE CHANGE is going on here?! This is getting NUTS, and NOT in a good way!

Anyways, I'll see you tomorrow, and I most CERTAINLY will be wearing shorts and a T-shirt daily through at least the beginning of October and listening to summer themed songs like Summer by Calvin Harris, South Of The Border by Camila Cabello & Ed Sheeran and California Gurls by Katy Perry & Snoop Dogg, and probably others like Heat Waves by Glass Animals. The Neighborhood's "Sweater Weather" will be played, eventually...

Updated 10:28 PM on 9/18/25 to add section for today's high, average and difference that I somehow forgot to include for the first time! 😂