Indian summer and its pleasant days
Much has been written over the years about the term Indian summer.
The word autumn seems to have something to do with the fairest season of them all and Indian summer has been called the fifth season. It occurs almost every year and is a floating period on the weather calendar coming after the first frost, which we had last Monday morning, and is characterized by a period of pleasant weather with mild and sunny days.
The weather factor involved is a large high pressure system that anchors itself over the Middle Atlantic region and usually remains stationary for a few days or even a week or so. Some years these fair weather high pressure systems visit two or three times, bringing along their pleasant weather. When high pressure visits, it comes with subsiding air that descends over the area and brings with it the sunny days and clear cool nights.
Sometimes this pleasant weather is also accompanied by a hazy sunshine that is caused by the lack of any wind to stir and mix the air. The air has a relaxed feeling to it and causes us to pause and enjoy some of our warmer weather activities like a round of golf, bike ride or just a hike in the woods to enjoy the last of the colors. The leaves have peaked in the mountains and good color can be founds lingering in the lower elevations.
It also is a period when we can work outside on the remaining harvest or chores that need to be done before the cold winds of winter make their appearance.
Native Americans would use this time to gather a final round of supplies and finish their harvest before winter and this is probably where the term originated.
Many a poet has tried a hand at creating a verse about its glories and Albert Matthews, a Boston lexicographer, searched practically the entire mass of early American literature in search of the first use of the term. The Monthly Weather Review published his findings and the conclusion was that nobody knew for sure where the term originated.
Our Mid-Atlantic region is situated in the best position to enjoy these pleasant weather spells, however occasionally Indian summer extends into New England and even the Mid-West.
With all the color provided by Mother Nature there is still time to get in a ride or two before the real cold air arrives. This is truly a special season for many.
People come from all over to see our fall colors and this year like every year they were not disappointed.
What is disappointing are the hundreds of thousands of political signs that compete with Mother Nature鈥檚 fall spectacular, many of which are placed illegally along US 40 which is a historic highway, or along many of our scenic and country roads.
It鈥檚 a shame that people come here to see the glory of the season and they are engulfed with scores of these signs that distract from the beauty of Southwestern Pennsylvania.