SYRACUSE -- The term 'Indian Summer' typically stirs up more than just casual talk because there has always been much debate about what it actually means.

In my 35+ years in the weather business, the two most common definitions I have heard are “a period of unseasonably nice and mild weather after the first snow” and “a period of unseasonably nice and mild weather after the first frost”. 

Before I get to what we in the “weather biz” consider Indian Summer, let me give you a quick history of this misunderstood term.

Looking back at historical writings in journals, the term Indian Summer dates back to at least the year 1778 in the United States, apparently written by a Frenchman named St. John de Crevecoeur, although we aren’t sure of his location. Another reference to the term was in a journal dated October 13, 1794 written in the present day city of Erie, Pennsylvania. The fact is, we just don’t know for sure where and when it started.

The one thing these very old journal entries have in common is the general reference to “a tranquil atmosphere of calm and warmth with no sign of winter”. Even today, I think we’d all generally agree with that.

There are also several references that this “unusually nice and mild spell of weather” encouraged the Indians to finish up harvesting and other outdoor chores. Several other somewhat more questionable theories are also out there, but this seems to be the best educated guess.

So, what do we as meteorologists consider Indian Summer?  For that, we check the American Meteorological Society’s Glossary of Meteorology, which is essentially the bible of weather terms for all meteorologists. Here is the official definition “A period in mid or late autumn of abnormally warm weather, generally clear skies, sunny and hazy days and cool nights. In New England (and generally the northeast), at least one killing frost and preferably a period of normally cool weather must proceed this warm spell for it to be considered a true Indian Summer. It does not occur every year, and in some years two or three Indian Summers ay occur.”

So here we are making our way into the second week of November. I think we’d all agree we have had our first widespread frost or freeze across the area, so that’s not an issue.  As I look back on October, in particular the daily high temperatures, I see many 50s and 60s , only one 70 degree reading and a few 40s. To me, nothing really “stood out”  in October as an “unseasonably warm stretch of weather”.

So, how about so far this month?  Obviously just yesterday, Monday with a high of 71 at Hancock Airport, only a few degrees shy of a record, was fantastic. The day before on Sunday we had 64 for a pleasant high. Other days this month were normal or colder than normal.

So was Sunday and Monday our “true Indian Summer”? The debate continues….