What’s Happened To September Weather In The Bay Area?

By Scarlett Tarango

     Despite the hopes that it would start cooling down after August, anyone living in the Bay Area has noticed by now that there’s been a major spike in hot weather this month. 

     September, the month that used to signify the start of fall, is now no cooler than July or August. To the surprise of many citizens around the Bay Area, the weather has barely decreased since summer, and is in fact only increasing.

     As of the week of September 14 in Benicia, the ten day forecast informs that the temperature will linger around the high 80s and low 90s, not even dropping below 70 degrees until after 11pm at night. “The weather service has issued an advisory for moderate heat risk,” Amanda Bartlett states in an SF Gate weather article. The month that used to go no higher than 80 is now giving us some of the highest temperatures we’ve seen all summer. 

     2025 isn’t the first year we’ve seen a September this hot. In 2023 September was 0.93C warmer than the previous 30 years. 

     But what’s caused this spike in temperature in recent years? Much neglect to slow down climate change has begun to reflect in our weather. Years of fossil fuels burning has deteriorated our atmosphere, causing dramatic changes in temperature and weather.  

     “Yes, average temperatures have increased,” Olivia Telecky informs in The Gustavion Weekly, “but so have instances of disastrous weather phenomena such as heat waves, hurricanes, and earthquakes”. 

     So how can we help? There’s plenty of small things we can do as individuals to help slow down climate change like; conserving electricity, food and water, recycling, and being mindful of travel. While these things won’t automatically change the weather, they can add up over time to positively impact the environment. 

Regardless, this September is going to be a hot one for the Bay Area. It’s important to be safe and mindful during harsh weather. Making sure not to be out during the hottest part of the day, staying hydrated, dressing light, and wearing sunscreen can all ensure the weather is more bearable.