Insider Blog: What a warming fall season could mean for the Coachella Valley

Fall has been getting consistently warmer since 1970 in more than 230 locations across the United States. This warming is widespread but has been most evident in the Southwest.

On average, fall has become 2.4 degrees Fahrenheit warmer across the country. Here in Palm Springs, our fall has gotten 2 degrees warmer since 1970.

In all but one of the more than 230 warming locations, there are more unusually warm days during the season. Palm Springs is one of the 86 locations nation-wide which now experience more than two weeks of above normal days in autumn. Palm Springs now sees about 15 more days of above average temperatures compared to 1970.

According to Dr. Michael Anderson, California's state climatologist, a warming fall can lead to a longer dry period, leading to an extended fire season in Southern California. As well, a warmer fall will lead to a shrinking winter and subsequently a shorter wet season here in the Coachella Valley.

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