The origin of the term “Indian Summer” is unclear, though it is thought probably to refer to Native Americans and the sometimes-balmy autumns in regions they inhabited such as New England. The earliest reference to the term is believed to date back to the late 18th or early 19th century.
It is generally used to describe unseasonably warm and settled periods of weather in the Northern Hemisphere’s autumn or winter, like the current spell. However, some argue that it should only properly relate to good weather later in the year, after the first frost has hit.
After a wet July and August, the people of Ireland will not worry too much about these technicalities as they enjoy a late burst of sunshine. The crowds on beaches this week, late into the evenings, show a determination to enjoy this spell of heat and brightness when it is there.
The summer weather this year was unusual. There was record-breaking heat in June – the hottest since 1940 – followed by July, during which rainfall was twice normal levels across much of the country, including some notable thunderstorms, leading to serious flooding. The storms continued in August, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. But despite overcast periods and frequent rain, the summer of 2023 was the fifth hottest we have seen on the island of Ireland since records began.
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While it is impossible to tie specific weather events directly to climate change, scientists have proved conclusively that the trends we are seeing are, indeed, due to global warming.
In the Northern Hemisphere, summer 2023 has been the hottest since records began, including periods of unbearable and dangerous heat across much of southern Europe, north America and northern Africa. Wildfires and higher mortality rates were the result.
Ireland is lucky to be located in a temperate zone. But while we may avoid intense heat, our weather is changing, bringing with it the need to adapt – and underlining the existential challenge of doing our part as a country to cut emissions.