True autumn will begin in the Northern Hemisphere on September 23, 2026, at 05:05 Astana time — that is when the autumn equinox arrives and astronomical autumn officially takes hold, the website infohub.kz reports.

Until then, summer continues regardless of the calendar date: its end is marked by the apparent center of the Sun crossing the celestial equator toward the south. South of the equator, the seasonal shift runs in the opposite order — spring is beginning there.

On the day of the equinox, day and night are almost equal in length across the globe, at roughly 12 hours each. Starting September 23, nights in our hemisphere will grow longer than days, and daylight will shrink rapidly until the winter solstice in December.

People have tracked the Sun's movement since ancient times: equinoxes and solstices helped them navigate the agricultural cycle, plan sowing and harvests. In many cultures, the September event was tied to the end of fieldwork, gratitude for the harvest and preparation for the cold season.

For the ancient Celts, the harvest period was associated with Mabon. In modern Wiccan tradition, it is one of the Wheel of the Year holidays, dedicated to the harvest and to taking stock.

In Korea, Chuseok — a traditional harvest and family reunion holiday — is celebrated around the September equinox. Its date is set by the lunar calendar, so it does not coincide with the equinox every year, though both events fall within the same seasonal period.

Common folk signs usually concern the weather ahead: people watch for departing birds, animal behavior, wind direction and the state of the forest. But there is no scientific way to predict the character of an entire winter from a single day. Such observations can be seen as part of cultural memory and a reason to look more closely at seasonal changes in nature, rather than a reliable forecast.

Earlier, Kursiv wrote about what autumn 2026 will be like. According to forecasters, September temperatures across most of Kazakhstan will stay within the climatic norm. It will be warmer in the west of the country, while the northern regions are expected to see more precipitation.

In October, the temperature pattern will shift more noticeably. Average monthly temperatures across most of Kazakhstan are expected to be 1–2 degrees above normal.

In November, temperatures are also expected to be 1–2 degrees above usual values across most of Kazakhstan.