On Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at 2:14:43 PM UTC+1, xmetman wrote:
This is the fifth sunny dry day in a row in mid-Devon but it's not an Indian Summer, because according to the BBC Weather presenters "Indian summers don't occur in September", and I've heard that a couple of times today on the BBC.

I totally disagree with this notion, there are no rules to say that a prolonged spell of dry, sunny and mild spell of weather can't be classified as an Indian Summer - obviously it has to happen after the Summer (otherwise it would be an Indian Summer:-)) has ended i.e. in Autumn - so why only in October or November?

It's only a few week ago that the BBC presenters were announcing the fact that 'meteorological autumn' had started on the 1st of September, so using their rules on what constitutes the beginning and end of seasons, Indian Summers could start even before the equinox.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_summer
https://xmetman.wordpress.com/2014/0...-wives-summer/

My understanding is the phrase relates to the dry Indian post monsoon period, i.e. October/early November. September is still very much a monsoon month.

Still a very pleasant spell of weather, watever it's called.

Graham
Penzance