Sudden Storms Flood Tokyo Streets

September ushers in the season of changing leaves, pumpkin spice and some much desired cooler temperatures.

But the first month of meteorological fall typically ends up being a catch-all for weather, ranging from hurricanes to snow.

Here's a look at what changes to expect.

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Temperatures Take A Tumble

For many, cool, crisp mornings are one of the clearest indicators that fall is here. And the end of September typically delivers that desired dip in temperatures.

(MORE: When Can You Typically Expect Your First Freeze?)

Average lows in September are in the 50s and 60s for much of the Lower 48, while parts of the northern tier and the higher elevations experience average lows in the 30s and 40s.

Morning lows in the 70s remain across much of Florida, parts of the Gulf Coast and the Desert Southwest.

But Some Heat Lingers...

Much of the southern half of the country remains in the grip of the summer heat for the month of September.

Average highs in the 80s still hang on across the southern U.S., with 90s in parts of Florida, Texas and the Desert Southwest. Meanwhile, those in the northern tier see more refreshing average highs in the 60s and 70s.

(Further beef up your forecast with our detailed, hour-by-hour breakdown for the next 8 days – only available on our Premium Pro experience.)

Daylight Begins To Slip Away

Sadly, the summer days of seemingly endless sunlight are slowly traded in for the shorter days of fall.

The hours of sunlight decrease throughout September with the fall equinox on Sept. 22 this year. The autumnal equinox is when the sun shines directly on the equator, meaning both the Northern and Southern hemispheres receive the same amount of daylight.

Areas farther north see a bigger change in daylight hours during September. Locations across the northern tier lose more than an hour of daylight from the beginning of the month until the end. Anchorage, Alaska, receives almost 2 hours and 45 minutes less daylight on Sept. 30 compared to Sept. 1.

(For even more granular weather data tracking in your area, view your 15-minute details forecast in our Premium Pro experience.)

Hurricane Season's Peak

September is notorious for being the peak month of the Atlantic hurricane season. This is because the favorable conditions for hurricane formation overlap best in September over the largest area of the Atlantic Ocean.

In a typical September, four named storms form in the Atlantic, with two to three of them becoming hurricanes and one of those reaching major hurricane status.

Last September was very busy with six named storms forming throughout the month. Two of these storms, Francine and Helene, made landfall in the U.S. as hurricanes.

Snow ...Yes, You Read That Right

It may sound "too soon," but there are some areas where snow can fall in September.

It's most common in the higher elevations and in Alaska, where Fairbanks averages 2.4 inches of snow in September.

Snow has also fallen in parts of the Plains, Great Lakes and northern New England in September. Mount Washington, New Hampshire, averages 1.2 inches of snowfall for the month.

Western Pattern Changes

Santa Ana Winds Return

The West can see Santa Ana winds make their reappearance as early as September.

Strong high pressure builds over the interior West resulting in a pattern with wind flowing offshore from the higher elevations of the desert areas through canyons and passes in Southern California.

The combination of low humidity and strong winds can add to the fire danger, especially in early fall as California ends its dry season.

Monsoon's Wet Phase Ends

The Southwest typically says goodbye to monsoon thunderstorm season by late September due to a shifting of the wind and temperature patterns in the region.

In summer, the winds flow from the tropical Pacific Ocean or Gulf into the Southwest, resulting in wet weather over the region. During the fall, that changes as the wind flows from the land to the ocean, since the land begins to cool and the water is warmer.

Caitlin Kaiser graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with both an undergraduate and graduate degree in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences before starting her career as a digital meteorologist with weather.com.