We know the question on your mind, Ashevillians — when’s it going to get cool? Thanks to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center, we know what temperatures and precipitation trends to expect in our city for September, October, and November. While exact weather conditions typically can’t be predicted more than a week in advance, here’s a seasonal outlook to help you prepare for what fall will bring.

Reminder: The first day of fall is on Saturday, Sept. 23.

The seasonal temperature outlook for this fall. | Photo by NOAA

Temperature

Think warm. This fall, Asheville has a 33-40% chanceof temperatures being higher than normal. We're not breaking out the sweaters just yet.

Precipitation

Expect slightly more precipitation. Asheville has a 40-50% chance of seeing higher-than-average rainfall amounts this fall. Snow in the fall is very unlikely, so it might just be time to invest in some galoshes.

Drought

No drought is expected for Asheville this season (which is good news for the leaves).

Fall is one of the area's favorite seasons. | Photo by AVLtoday

September

Typically in Asheville, September brings an average low of 57.9° and an average high of 78.7°, but expect more high-temperature days this year. The warmer-than-average temperatures in late September could delay the fall colors — but likely not by much. September is usually pretty cloudy, but we could see more sunshine or partly cloudy days, so don't forget the sunscreen.

October

In October, the average high is usually around 69.6° with a low around 46.2° — but like September, we're preparing for warmer weather. Fall foliage will probably peak around the third week of October, and since we're not in a drought this year, color is predicted to be good (although warmer temperatures could mean changing leaves are more spread out and color is somewhat muted).

November

Historically, November's average highs drop about 10° to 59.5° with an average low of 36.1°, so even with higher fall temperatures it's likely to get a little chilly. November is usually pretty overcast, and over the course of the month, the chance of rainfall increases slightly — but snowfall is still very unlikely.