Summer fun is almost over, so get ready for fall weather.
AccuWeather is forecasting a mild but slightly wet autumn in Ohio.
El Niño – a natural warming of seawater that influences weather around the planet – will impact several regions in the country, including the Northern Plains, Upper Midwest and the Great Lakes, the weather service said in its fall forecast.
The first day of the fall season is Tuesday, Sept. 22. The beginning of fall will be marked by the autumnal equinox, which is forecast to occur at 8:04 p.m. on that day. The last day of fall will be Dec. 20, as the winter season will begin with the winter equinox on Dec. 21.
AccuWeather meteorologists don't foresee above-average precipitation in Ohio. Forecasters expect periods of wet and dry patterns in the state throughout the fall. Southern Ohio may get some of the above-average rainfall that's expected in Kentucky.
"It's going to be a year that's dominated by the term El Niño," said Paul Pastelok, senior meteorologist and long-range forecaster at AccuWeather. "We could see some brief occasions where the storm track is quite active coming out the South and could bring some wet systems across the state from time to time."
He also warned that the weather could get crazy enough that Northeast Ohio gets some early snowfall before fall ends.
Pastelok said September may bring isolated severe weather such as strong thunderstorms and chances of flooding.
"I think (the severe weather) quiets down just a little bit later in September and early October and then we could start to see more just flat-out rain events," Pastelok said.
Though he doesn't predict a scorcher, Pastelok isn't expecting a cool fall this year, either.
"Don't be surprised that you get a few days in a row where this feels more like late summer than it does early fall," he said.
More: What does the upcoming Ohio winter look like? What Farmer's Almanac says
The rest of the country won't be as lucky in terms of precipitation. AccuWeather forecasts drought conditions in the Northwest.
"The greatest concern extends across northern California, eastern Oregon, southern Idaho and Utah, where prolonged dry conditions; above-average warmth and periodic dry thunderstorms will continue to create favorable conditions for wildfire growth," AccuWeather said.
The Southwest will see the opposite as El Niño is expected to bring additional storm systems to Southern California. The region could see monsoons, flash floods and mudslides this upcoming season.
El Niño is expected to steer more storm systems across the southern United States this fall, increasing the risk of repeated rounds of heavy rain and flooding from the Gulf Coast into the Southeast.
After a wet start to the summer, parts of the Northeast are expected to turn warmer and drier next season. Below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures may allow drought conditions to expand.
Parts of the Northeast may see a significant snowfall event in November, AccuWeather said.
El Niño is the sudden warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean off the coast of Peru. This phenomenon occurs roughly every three to seven years,
It is strongest during the winter months, and its global impacts are typically most significant in the northern hemisphere in the winter.
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This article originally appeared on The Repository: What does the upcoming Ohio fall season look like? Here's what AccuWeather says