In recent years, many Hefei residents have been expressing the same concern: “It feels like Hefei no longer has autumn.” The sudden shift from lingering summer heat to cold winter-like temperatures has made the city’s traditionally mild and scenic autumn seem almost nonexistent. Meteorological data confirms that this impression is not an illusion. Hefei’s autumn is indeed shrinking.

According to the Hefei Meteorological Department, the city entered autumn on October 10 this year, more than ten days later than the usual seasonal transition date of September 28. The delay in autumn’s arrival has become a consistent trend over the past decades. From 1961 to 1990, Hefei typically entered autumn around September 20. From 1991 to 2020, that date shifted to September 28, a full eight-day delay on average.

This later start has directly shortened the duration of the season. Data shows that the city’s autumn once lasted approximately 62 days, but in the past thirty years that period has been reduced to just 51 days. In other words, Hefei has lost nearly two weeks of autumn. Many residents now experience the city’s climate as a fast leap from intense heat into biting cold, with little time to enjoy golden leaves and cool breezes.

The situation is not limited to Hefei alone. Across Anhui Province, autumn arrives at different times depending on latitude and geography. Areas north of the Huaihe River typically transition into autumn in mid to late September, while southern regions along the Yangtze River do not reach meteorological autumn until mid-October. This year, a stronger-than-usual subtropical high pressure kept central and southern Anhui excessively warm until a powerful cold front swept through between October 17 and 20.

Meteorologists note that the gradual delay and shortening of autumn are closely linked to broader climate warming trends. If this pattern continues, the beloved crisp and colorful autumn that locals once enjoyed may become even shorter in the years ahead.

For Hefei residents who cherish the comfort and romance of autumn, the question lingers: is the city’s most pleasant season slowly disappearing?