The equinox arrives tomorrow, but day and night won't be equal here
When is the equinox in 2026?
The September equinox arrives on Tuesday, September 22 at 2:19 PM in Columbus.
NOAA seasonal rainfall outlook for the months ahead. Map: CNAW 2, built from NOAA data on a USGS base.
The September equinox arrives tomorrow at 2:19 PM, marking the astronomical start of autumn. The name promises equal day and night, but that is not quite what happens here. Today Columbus has 12 hours and 11 minutes of daylight. The equinox occurs when the sun crosses the celestial equator, but sunrise and sunset are measured to the top of the sun, and the air bends its light as it passes through the atmosphere near the horizon. This refraction adds a few minutes of daylight on either end of the day, so equal day and night actually falls a few days after the equinox itself.
Right now the valley is losing about two minutes of daylight each day. By late September, the shortening will accelerate as autumn deepens. The soil temperature six centimetres down is holding at 80 degrees, well above the normal range of 74 to 88 degrees for this time of year.
Right now in Columbus, Georgia
78°Temperature
70°Dew point
76%Humidity
2 mphWind — west
29.91"Pressure
The next seven days
Day
High
Low
Rain
Conditions
TONIGHT
—
72°
8%
Partly Cloudy
TODAY
94°
72°
27%
Patchy Fog then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WED
91°
69°
24%
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
THU
85°
63°
22%
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny
FRI
86°
63°
1%
Mostly Sunny
SAT
87°
61°
1%
Mostly Sunny
SUN
88°
61°
3%
Mostly Sunny
Written by the CNAW 2 weather desk from CNAW 2 weather desk data. Last updated September 22, 2026 at 2:10 AM Eastern. Covering Columbus and Phenix City, Auburn–Opelika, LaGrange, Eufaula and the rest of the 19-county CNAW viewing area.
