Not quite the end of summer... but is it an Indian Summer?

Certain newspapers just can't help themselves.

Many parts of the UK - especially the north and west of England - are enjoying a protracted spell of dry, warm weather.

It's true that after the coldest August in 21 years, the UK is experiencing above average temperatures for September.

However, despite this 'last hurrah' of summer, media claims that we are enjoying an Indian Summer simply cannot be taken at face value!

An Indian summer is a heat wave that occurs in the autumn.It occurs in the Northern Hemisphere between late September and mid-November.

However, for an Indian Summer to be classified as such, there are certain weather parameters which the forecast needs to fulfil.

We need to have had the first damaging frost of autumn. Some parts of the country have experienced this, but not the NW. This is known as the "Squaw Winter" and relates back to the native American Indians.

Daytime temperatures are above average and conditions have been a little hazy from time to time. However, it is still too early to say that we are 'experiencing an Indian Summer' as all these conditions must occur after the autumn equinox on 23rd September.

So, we have to wait until next Wednesday at the earliest before we can begin to talk about an Indian Summer.

And, until then, maybe we should amend that headline to 'the UK's hope for an Indian Summer' ...