Tuesday is Shift to Fall for Oregon / Washington; Second Summer on Coastlines

Published 09/20/2026 at 6:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Manzanita, Oregon) – Let's face it. Summer is on life support. It's about to go bye-bye. Mondays is the last full day of summer.

According to Jim Todd of Portland’s OMSI, fall arrives in the Pacific Northwest on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 5:05 p.m. PDT. With that comes not only seasonal and weather changes to Oregon, Washington and the coastlines, but also some shifts in the realms of physics and astronomy all around us.

“This is the moment in time when the Sun's rays are directly over the equator, making day and night nearly equal in length,” Todd told Oregon Coast Beach Connection. “As the Sun's rays continue their journey south, our hours of darkness will become longer than daylight. This is why it is called an 'equinox,' a Latin word meaning 'equal night.' “

From the September Equinox (Sept. 22) to the Winter Solstice (Dec. 21), we will enjoy nearly 90 days of autumn, he said.

Todd explains that Portland’s closest true 12-hour split of daylight and darkness occurs on September 25, when sunrise is at 7:01 a.m. and sunset at 7:02 p.m. The city’s position near the 45th parallel (which runs through the coast) adds a few minutes of daylight because sunrise and sunset each take several minutes as the sun fully clears or dips below the horizon. Atmospheric refraction further extends daylight, bending sunlight so the sun appears above the horizon slightly longer than it actually is.

Fall colors in Oregon - HIllsboro / Oregon Coast Beach Connection

Todd also highlights the cultural significance of the equinox. Around the world, the date aligns with seasonal traditions such as the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, a major harvest celebration observed in China, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

In Oregon, modern Harvest Moon festivals bring concerts, farmers markets, tastings, and craft fairs to local communities.

Pacific Northwest Weather | Oregon, Washington, Coastline (see NW from space) |---| Washington Coast Weather |---| Oregon Coast Weather |---| Inland Oregon Weather

Along the Oregon coast and Washington coast, this actually means the best time of the year, in terms of weather. They call it “second summer” out on the coast, and thanks to a variety of meteorological elements this brings the least winds, bluest skies and warmest temps to the coast all year. See Get Ready for 'Second Summer' on Oregon Coast, Washington Coast: Best Weather of the Year

The Pacific Northwest’s fall colors are expected to develop through late September and well into October. Oregon and Washington and both full of areas where these colors simply explode.

Todd adds that the equinox offers a practical bonus for skywatchers: it’s an ideal day to align a sundial, as the sun rises due east and sets due west.

More information about the equinox and current night-sky highlights is available in OMSI’s Starry Nights Live! show inside the Kendall Planetarium. A full schedule and tickets can be found at OMSI.edu.

Oregon Coast Hotels for this event - South Coast Hotels - Oregon Coast Vacation Rentals - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours

MORE PHOTOS BELOW

Dreamy Port Orford's Hotels, Rentals, Inns - Unique Rooms of the South Oregon...
Variety of hotels, vacation rentals and BnB's that stand out. Hotel reviews

Laidback Rockaway Beach, Ocean in View from Hidden Oregon Coast Condo Rental
Luxury and an unstoppable view meet. Rockaway Beach hotel reviews, lodging news

Oregon Coast Hotels
Oregon Coast Hotels and hotel reviews: Astoria hotels, Seaside hotels, Cannon Beach hotels, Manzanita hotels, Nehalem hotels, Wheeler hotels, Rockaway Beach hotels, Garibaldi hotels, Tillamook hotels, Oceanside hotels, Pacific City hotels, Lincoln City hotels, Depoe Bay hotels, Newport hotels, Waldport hotels, Yachats hotels, Florence hotels, Reedsport hotels, Winchester Bay hotels, Coos Bay hotels, Bandon hotels, Gold Beach hotels, Brookings hotels

Rockaway Beach Hotels - Oregon Coast Beachfront
Rockaway Beach Hotels, Rockaway Beach hotel reviews, vacation rentals

More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging.....

More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining.....

Washington Coast / Oregon Coast Articles (stories are random: hit reload to see different articles)

Back to Oregon Coast

Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection
All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright © Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted