September 23 marks the start of the autumn equinox…

You may already have noticed it as you dash to your car in the morning, head out on the school run, or on your evening walk – but the UAE is starting to cool down.

If you’re wondering what to expect from the weather this month, pay attention to the National Centre of Meteorology’s (NCM) just-released September climate report. September is considered the last month of summer, so as such, you can expect temperatures to be on the decline – especially at night. So, you may be able to enjoy an alfresco sundowner or BBQ in the garden before the month is out.

But while temperatures are dropping, September is, on average, the most humid month in the UAE. Looking at data collected for 44 years from 1977 to 2021 at a weather station near Dubai International Airport shows that while August is the hottest month in terms of temperature, the max mean humidity is highest in September. As per the figures, the max mean humidity is 69% in June, 65% in July, 65% in August and 74% in September. So that explains why September can often feel just as oppressive, heat wise, as super-hot August.

However there’s still weather news to look forward to. The autumn exuinox will be marked on September 23, which is when the sun shines directly on the equator, and the northern and southern hemispheres get the same amount of rays. This signals the start of autumn.