2022 Fall Forecast: See What’s In Store For Rhode Island

With much of the U.S. battling through the dog days of a sweltering summer, it’s hard to fathom that meteorological autumn is less than a month away. But forecasters are already releasing their predictions for when Rhode Island residents can expect weather perfect for hoodies, hayrides and pumpkin spice everything.

Meteorological autumn begins Sept. 1 and continues through Nov. 30. While fall doesn’t officially start until the Sept. 22 equinox, forecasters use consistent dates each year to make comparing seasons easier.

AccuWeather recently released its 2022 fall forecast. Is Rhode Island in for a delightfully cool autumn packed with bonfires and trips to the apple orchard and pumpkin patch? Let’s just say we may be in for a few extra weeks of unseasonably warm temperatures in the Ocean State.

According to AccuWeather, the start of fall likely won't bring much change to the Northeast. It's likely going to feel like summer, at least until October. For the whole season, expect average temperatures to be up to 2 degrees warmer.

To determine its fall forecast, AccuWeather forecasters used data from computer models while also analyzing weather patterns around the globe and past years.

After combining these factors, the AccuWeather team condensed its seasonal outlook into one word: warm.

“With pretty good confidence this year, I think it's a mild fall setting up overall for the U.S.,” AccuWeather forecaster Paul Pastelok said.

Here’s what other parts of the country could expect:

• In September, millions of residents in the Northeast and Midwest won’t feel much of a change when it comes to temperature. Expect the first frost of the season to arrive one or two weeks earlier than normal across the Upper Midwest and upstate New York.
• For the third consecutive year, La Niña will supercharge the Atlantic hurricane season, which will lead to a higher threat of tropical systems making landfall this autumn.

• Drought conditions are expected to ease across the Northeast, Midwest and Southeast. However, abnormally dry conditions will remain throughout most of the central United States in places like Texas, eastern New Mexico and western Kansas.

Widespread and long-term drought is expected to fuel another active wildfire season in the West. The worst of the fires are expected to develop in areas different from 2021.