In meteorological and colloquial terms, a true Indian Summer typically adheres to the following criteria: Occurs between late September and mid-November .
To identify an Indian Summer, look for:
The first recorded use of the term appears in a 1778 letter by French-American farmer . Several theories explain its naming: Indian summer | Royal Meteorological Society indian summer meaning origin
Some historical accounts suggest that late autumn was a time when Indigenous tribes would launch raids on settlements before the deep snows of winter made travel impossible. The warm spell provided cover and ease of movement. Settlers may have associated this tense time of potential raids with the warm weather, dubbing it "Indian Summer." In meteorological and colloquial terms, a true Indian
In recent years, the usage of the term has come under scrutiny due to the evolving understanding of language regarding Indigenous peoples. The warm spell provided cover and ease of movement
In modern meteorology and common parlance, an Indian Summer is defined as a period of unseasonably warm, dry weather that occurs in the autumn, specifically after the first killing frost.
Because one of the origin theories suggests the term implies something "fake" or "inferior," and because it relies on a stereotype (smoke, raiding), some style guides and meteorologists suggest retiring the phrase.