Summer of San Martín

On these dates takes place the summer of San Martín. It is a small period of time where temperatures begin to rise during the month of November (approximately around the 11th) and which is due to an anticyclonic situation. This type of summer is not as well known as the summer of San Miguel but it is worth knowing more about him.

In this article you will learn more about the San Martín summer and its characteristics. Do you want to know why this phenomenon is due? Read on to find out.

What is the summer of San Martín

It is common to see how every year, during the month of November, the weather is somewhat more pleasant and the temperatures rise somewhat compared to the days of October. This "rest" in the face of temperature drops has its meteorological explanation. It is a small period of about 3 days where you can enjoy a pleasant time thanks to an anticyclonic situation.

This rise in temperatures is not usual in these periods. The normal thing at this time of year is that, as fall progresses to make way for winter, temperatures continue to drop continuously. The Earth continues its orbit over the Sun and the rays reach us with an increasing degree of inclination. This is what makes it get colder and colder.

This summer carries a legend that we will tell later later, in addition to other curiosities. The popular saying goes that "The summer of San Martín lasts three days and that's it!". As this popular saying goes, it rarely lasts more than three days. Normally, at this time is when temperatures rise (especially during the day) throughout the peninsula and the Balearic Islands. There are also weak frosts at the same time in the higher areas of the eastern peninsula and especially in the Pyrenees.

Temperatures are between 20 and 25 degrees, so it is not really considered as a summer, but rather as a spring. However, it is known by that name since there are situations more similar to those of summer.

Does it really happen or is it a legend?

It is possible that any slight increase in temperatures on dates close to the summer of San Martín can be confused with this event. However, many meteorologists have been analyzing all the records issued for decades in which it can be verified that in the days around November 11 the temperatures rise abnormally. As we have said before, the general trend at this time should be to continually decline.

In the northern half of Spain abnormally high temperature increases of values ​​between 7 and 10 degrees with respect to the average are usually registered. That it rises one or two degrees may be a coincidence due to a gust of hot wind, little cloudiness and a higher incidence of solar radiation, etc. But an increase of between 7 and 10 degrees corresponds to other types of situations.

In 2015 there was a really strong summer of San Martín. In this case, it was not even necessary to put the diminutive of illo, since it really seemed that we had returned to summer. The question that arises now is, is this meteorological situation of three anomalous days something common or something strange happening?

If we want to answer this question in a scientific way, we must turn to the data collected by meteorological stations. Data from 8 stations located throughout the Peninsula and a special one for the Canary Islands were used. In this way, the difference in time with respect to latitude and the position of the anticyclone can be well contrasted.

Measurements and results

These stations began collecting data from October 28 to November 30 continuously day after day. This large range is made to be able to analyze the data and the trend well. It doesn't always have to happen at the same time. It can usually happen around November 11, but it can be early or late. In this way, numerous data are guaranteed before and after the summer to analyze the trend.

After studying the temperature values, it can be seen that the trend does not vary. That is, the temperatures from October 28 to November 30 continue to drop, so there would be no summer. It is simply observed a reduction in the drops in temperatures and even a small rise as a result of the contrast of these days in meteorology.

Sayings and curiosities of the summer of San Martín

In the Spanish proverb we can find several of them that have to do with this meteorological phenomenon. These are:

• The summer of San Martín lasts three days and ends
• From San Martín to Santa Isabel, summer is.
• The summer for San Martín has to come.
• Already in the summer, the maturity of the quince.
• Quince summer, by San Andrés concluded.

This type of phenomenon has some curiosities that you cannot miss. Among them we find:

• Its name is because on the 11th (date on which it usually takes place) It is the day of San Martín.
• The legend that we mentioned above is due to the fact that according to what they say, San Martín split his cape in two to cover a beggar who was naked and God, to reward that good gesture, sent a more pleasant meteorology for several days.
• This stable time is mainly due to an anticyclone situation where the clouds are scarce, without precipitation and with hardly any wind.
• The temperatures are very high compared to usual.
• It is only recorded in the Northern Hemisphere.
• There is another summer known as that of San Miguel whose effects are similar.
• In the United States it is called Indian Summer.
• In the southern hemisphere He is known as Veranillo de San Juan.
• A transfer of this summer to the day of Santa Isabel on November 17 has also been noted.

I hope that with this information you can learn more about this meteorological phenomenon.