Almost every year, as September draws to a close, temperatures begin to drop with the arrival of autumn. However, during the week of September 29th, temperatures rise again. This is known as the Indian Summer. It's a week in which temperatures increase as if summer has returned.
In this article you will be able to know the curiosities and scientific aspects of the summer of San Miguel. Do you want to discover all its secrets?
When is the summer of San Miguel?
As summer begins to wind down, many people dread the drop in temperature. It's back to work, routine, and the harsh winter. Generally, the thermometer starts to fall in September, marking the beginning of autumn. However, in the week leading up to September 29th , Saint Michael's Day, temperatures rise again as if summer were returning.
During this Indian summer, temperatures reach 30 degrees in Spain. It's as if summer has returned to bid farewell until the following year. The name of this short summer comes from the celebration of Saint Michael's Day on September 29th.
In some places it's known as the Quince Summer or the Archangels' Summer. It's a brief period of very pleasant temperatures that makes the arrival of colder weather more bearable. Some days during this time even approach the conditions we experience in summer. However, a few days later, autumn returns with its cooler breezes.
It usually takes place in late September and early October. This period of higher temperatures does not attend to any special factor. It is the changes in the atmosphere that cause temperature fluctuations and the anticyclonic weather that favors good weather.
Why is it called the Quince Summer?
We have mentioned that it also receives this name and it is because at this time of year the quince is harvested.
This period of time was baptized by the farmers who referred to the harvest time of this crop. Formerly, quinces were protected by the goddess of love Aphrodite. Hence it is said that the quince is the fruit of love.
Is there a summer of San Miguel every year?
This mini-summer is simply an annual atmospheric phenomenon. During this time, temperatures rise and remain high for about a week before dropping again. The United States experiences a similar phenomenon called Indian Summer . In German-speaking countries, it's known as Altweibersommer.
Something very similar happens in the Southern Hemisphere around June 24th. For them, this marks the beginning of winter. However, near St. John's Day, temperatures return to slightly warmer levels, similar to those here. They call this period the "little summer of St. John."
Although there are many meteorological sayings, science can explain a myriad of these popular sayings and beliefs. However, in this case, there is no scientific reason to justify this summer. But it is possible to explain some causes of why it occurs.
By the end of September, the official summer season has come to an end. At this time, the first signs of winter are already noticeable in the atmosphere. It's a crucial moment in the transition between seasons, with cool days alternating with warm ones. Therefore, the changing atmosphere often brings some pleasant weather after the initial temperature drops of autumn.
Not every year has to have a summer of San Miguel. It's a trend that continues year after year, but it doesn't necessarily have to happen.
Odds and other summers
There are many years in which there has been a summer of San Miguel, but others in which not. There is another similar trend on dates close to November 11, the day on which San Martín is celebrated. These days we suffer one last "blow" of the summer with a rise in temperatures. In this case, the rise is not as steep as in summer, but it does remind us more of a spring. You could say that it is the summer warning us that it will soon return to us and that we have patience.
Whether or not these "Indian summers" occur is a matter of probability. Alternating warm and cool days are very common during these transitional seasons, such as spring and autumn. They are called "Indian summers" because they coincide with the feast days of saints.
If we look back in time, we can see that there have been years when we haven't had a summer of San Miguel. We had floods in Murcia in 1664 and 1919 (with around twenty deaths); in 1764 in Málaga, in 1791 in Valencia, and in 1858 in Cartagena. On September 29 and 30, 1997, there were tragic floods in Alicante.
More recent are the floods that from September 27 to 29, 2012 affected Lorca, Puerto Lumbreras, Malaga, Almería or Alicante, which even claimed several lives. Therefore, we are not with a certain science that this warmer episode has to occur every year.
Sayings of the summer of San Miguel
As we know, popular proverbs are very rich in everything related to weather and harvests. In this case, these are the best-known proverbs for that time of year:
- For San Miguel, great heat, it will be of great value.
- By the summer of San Miguel there are fruits like honey
- In September, at the end of the month, the heat returns again.
- For San Miguel, first the walnut, the chestnut later.
- The summer of San Miguel is missing very rarely
- All fruit is good with heat for San Miguel.
Where does the San Miguel summer take place this 2023 and how long will it last?
According to Aemet forecasts, on Monday temperatures will increase and the weather on the peninsula will be mostly cloudy or sunny, with possible light rains in the northwest.
Generally speaking, the weather pressure across the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands will be higher that day , and the weather will be mostly clear or sunny, with no rain. Only in Galicia will the arrival of a less active Atlantic front bring cloudy skies, with a chance of light rain in the northwest, and more likely inland areas in the afternoon.
Likewise, intermittent low clouds are expected in the morning over the Mediterranean, with the possibility of some isolated fog banks, especially in the southeastern interior and Catalonia. In the Canary Islands, cloudy weather is expected in the north and cloudy weather in the south.
As for minimum temperatures, there will be an increase in the highs and a decrease in the lows in the interior of the Iberian Peninsula , especially in northwestern Galicia, southern Andalusia, Menorca, and the eastern Canary Islands. Maximum temperatures will increase over the interior of the peninsula and the central Canary Islands, and decrease over the Cantabrian coast, with no significant changes in the rest of the country.
Temperatures will rise in the north on Wednesday. The front approaching Galicia, while not bringing much rain, will cause southerly winds that will send temperatures soaring in these areas. The temperature increase will be most pronounced in the eastern Cantabrian Sea region, where temperatures could reach 30 degrees Celsius in Bilbao.
Myths and truths of the Veranillo de San Miguel
In popular culture there are numerous myths and errors that are attributed to this type of phenomenon. Let's see what some of them are:
- Myth 1: It always happens on the same date. Fact: Although it is commonly associated with the period surrounding September 29, which is Saint Michael's Day, veranillo does not have a fixed date and can vary in its occurrence. It depends on local weather conditions and can occur at different times in the fall.
- Myth 2: It's a mini summer. Fact: Despite its name, the summer of San Miguel is not a complete return to summer. It's just a short period of warm, dry weather that contrasts with typical fall conditions.
- Myth 3: It lasts exactly nine days. Reality: There is no fixed duration for the San Miguel summer. It can last from just a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on location and weather conditions.
- Myth 4: It is caused by Saint Michael the Archangel. Fact: The name “San Miguel summer” comes from the date it often occurs, but it does not have a religious cause nor is it the result of divine intervention.
- Myth 5: During the summer of San Miguel, frost is impossible. Fact: Although summer usually brings warmer temperatures and more stable conditions, it does not guarantee that there will be no frost. Frost may occur on some nights, especially in higher elevations or areas further from the coast.
With this information you can learn more about this little summer that we celebrate with joy in the face of the imminent drops in autumn temperatures and the arrival of cold winter.