“ The popular belief that Indian summer weather was predicted by the native Indians in conversation with the first European settlers finds no documentary corroboration, and the idea that the term Indian summer was employed by the early settlers seems to be a myth. ”

“ Owing to the prevailing dryness, forest fires and prairie fires occur at this time, and the smoke adds to the intensity of the Indian summer haze, but is not necessarily the sole cause of it. Frequently such smoke spreads slowly eastward, gathers moisture to itself, and is followed by clouds and gentle rain. ”

“ During Indian summer weather the barometer stands above the average, and the cloudless sky indicates that there is in general a descending tendency of the air at some distance above the earth. Balloons ascending to great heights show that there is very little horizontal movement in the air, but what there is is toward the east. ”