Breaking down ‘False Fall’ in the Midwest
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW)--Every year, toward the end of Missouri’s intense summer heat, the region gets hit with a blast of cooler air.
This sparks the seasonal buzzword: "False Fall." It usually arrives in late August or early September, when a crisp fall breeze suddenly rolls through town.
However, Midwesterners shouldn't get too comfortable, because within the week, temperatures will return to 90 degrees in the afternoon.
During False Fall, the Midwest typically experiences a stretch of cooler, drier days that tease the arrival of autumn. While it may feel like a permanent change, fall doesn’t officially begin until Sept. 22.
Historically, Missouri’s daily high temperatures only begin to consistently drop during this period, from the mid-80s in August to the upper 70s and low 80s in early September.
Part of what makes False Fall so convincing is how desperate we are for a break from summer. After weeks of sticky humidity and scorching days, even a two-day dip into the 60s or 70s can feel like October.
The sudden cool-down that defines False Fall is usually the result of a cold front—a boundary where a cold, dense air mass from Canada pushes southward and displaces the warm, humid air lingering over Missouri.
These cooler air masses often originate in the Arctic or northern Plains and sweep through the Midwest, bringing noticeably lower temperatures, drier air, and occasionally gusty winds.
Because Missouri sits in the central United States, far from oceans that help stabilize the climate, weather patterns here are prone to dramatic swings.
After the front passes, temperatures can drop 10 to 20 degrees or more, making it feel like fall has arrived.
But since it’s still technically summer, that cool air doesn’t stick around for long. Warm air from the Gulf coast often flows back in, kicking off what many locals call “Second Summer.”
So while it’s tempting to break out the flannel, sip a pumpkin spice latte, and declare summer over, don't pack away your shorts just yet. In Missouri, False Fall is just the beginning of a season that likes to play tricks.
