September 21st has long been considered a special autumn date in Lithuania – according to the traditional calendar, today is the beginning of the Bobai summer. This period is associated with the last warm and sunny days of autumn, cobwebs fluttering in the fields, and old customs. Traditionally, the Bobai summer period lasts until September 29th – Michaelmas.
However, the calendar start of the bobsleigh summer does not mean that today is the start of the meteorological bobsleigh summer in Lithuania. The period of warm, dry and sunny autumn weather comes at different times every year, and in some years it may not occur at all.
This year, the first part of the bobsleigh summer week will not resemble a real summer – rain, wind, and temperatures of just 12-17 degrees are expected. However, the forecast for the weekend is much more pleasant: on Sunday, thermometers in some places may show as much as 22 degrees.
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In old calendars, September 21st is marked as the beginning of the summer of the bobs. This period traditionally continues until September 29th, which is St. Michaelmas, also known as Dagotuvės. This was a time associated with the end of the most important autumn farm work and the harvest.
Another old tradition associated with September 21st is the honoring of midwives. These were women who assisted mothers in childbirth and welcomed children into the world. One of the versions of the origin of the name of the summer of bobs is associated with these respected older women in the community.
However, this is not the only explanation for the name. Ethnic culture researchers have also put forward other versions. One of them is related to the potato digger, which was traditionally a large part of women’s work.
Another interesting version associates the name not with women at all, but with spiders. In some parts of Lithuania, large spiders were formerly called “bobs”. It is in early autumn that cobwebs floating in the air are particularly visible in fields and meadows – one of the most striking symbols of the summer of bobs.
The real summer of bobs doesn’t look at the calendar
Although September 21st is traditionally considered the beginning of bobsled summer, meteorologists define this phenomenon differently.
Bobai summer is a period of dry, sunny, and relatively warm weather in autumn. In Lithuania, it usually occurs in late September or October.
Such weather is determined by favorable atmospheric circulation, when warmer and drier air masses reach our region. During the day, the temperature can rise to 18-22 degrees or even higher, the sky is often clear, but the nights remain autumnal and much cooler.
The duration of the bob summer is also not set in advance. Sometimes such weather lasts only a few days, and under favorable circumstances – a week or more. In some years, there may be no pronounced bob summer period at all.
The beginning of the week will not be reminiscent of summer for bobs
This year’s calendar summer of bobsleigh will start quite autumnally. As early as Tuesday, September 22, there will be intermittent rain, with heavier rain expected at the beginning of the night and during the day. Thunderstorms may occur in some places, and the possibility of small ice floes is not ruled out in some places.
The wind will blow northwest, with occasional northerly winds during the day, 7–12 m/s, gusts on the coast may reach 15 m/s. At night, the temperature will drop to 6–9 degrees, and the temperature on the coast will be 10–13 degrees. During the day, it will be 14–17 degrees.
On Wednesday, September 23, the rain zone will cover an increasingly large part of the country. It will rain in the eastern and northeastern regions at night, in the morning it will reach Central Lithuania, and during the day many regions will already receive precipitation. It is expected to remain drier in the western and southwestern outskirts of the country.
At night, the temperature will reach 6–10 degrees, and on the coast – 11–13 degrees. During the day, it will be only 12–16 degrees. On the coast, wind gusts may again increase to 15 m/s.
More rain on Thursday and Friday
On Thursday, September 24, there will be brief rain and fog in some places at night. Most of it is expected in the northern and northeastern regions. During the day, rain will spread to many areas of the country.
At night it will be 6–10 degrees Celsius, and on the western outskirts and along the coast – 11–13 degrees Celsius. During the day the temperature will only reach 13–15 degrees. Southwesterly wind gusts will strengthen to 15 m/s in places.
Even wetter weather is expected on Friday, September 25. Rain is expected in almost all of Lithuania, quite heavy in places. In the evening, more intense rain is expected in the eastern and northeastern regions, while the least precipitation is expected in the western and southwestern outskirts of the country.
At night it will be 7–11 degrees, on the coast – 12–14 degrees. During the day the temperature will fluctuate between 12 and 17 degrees. Wind gusts can reach 15–17 m/s.
A sudden change this weekend: 20-degree heat will return
There is better news for the weekend. There may still be some light rain in some places on the night of Saturday, September 26, but no significant rain is expected during the day.
At night, the temperature will reach 11-13 degrees in many places, only in the eastern and northeastern regions it will be cooler – 8-10 degrees. During the day, the air will warm up to 16-19 degrees.
Sunday, September 27th, should be even more pleasant. No rain is expected, and the wind will be light and variable in direction.
At night, thermometers will show 9–12 degrees, and on the coast – 13–15 degrees. During the day, temperatures in most parts of the country will rise to 17–22 degrees. The coolest temperatures will remain on the coast.
So, although the calendar summer of bobsleds starts on Monday, we will have to accept truly autumnal weather in its first days. A more pronounced change is expected over the weekend, and on Sunday we will see temperatures exceeding 20 degrees in some places.
Elsewhere, this autumn period is called quite differently.
The phenomenon of the last pronounced autumn warming is known in many countries around the world, but its names vary.
Latvians use the word “atvasara” to mean the return of summer. In the Czech Republic, this period is called the cobweb summer, in Bulgaria and Serbia – the gypsy summer, and in parts of Southern and Western Europe the name St. Martin’s summer is common. In North America, this period of warm autumn weather is traditionally known as “Indian summer”.
There is also a spicy theory associated with the summer of bobs
There are also much more saucy claims floating around about the summer of bobs. Sexologist Viktoras Shapurovas has claimed that women’s sexual desire can increase during this time of year. He attributed this not to the meteorological phenomenon itself, but to the effects of summer vacation – after the holidays, people can feel more rested, have more energy, and be in a better mood.
In the same comment, the sexologist stated that men tend to associate spring with a period of heightened sexual desire. However, this is a specialist’s opinion, not a universally valid biological rule.
So, according to the old tradition, on September 21st, the bobsleigh summer period begins in Lithuania, lasting until September 29th. And although the first half of it will be rainy and cool this year, the weekend forecast will much more justify the name bobsleigh summer – on Sunday, it may warm up to 22 degrees in some places.