Sunny ‘granny summer’ coming this week – what’s behind the Czech name?

After a chilly and overcast start to November, Czechia is set for a brief spell of warmer, sunnier weather, as meteorologists predict the arrival of babí léto, or “granny summer.” Daytime highs could reach 15°C, while overnight temperatures will mostly remain above freezing.

The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ) predicts mostly clear skies from Tuesday, with fog and low clouds dissipating across much of the country. By the end of the week, however, cloudier skies and slightly cooler temperatures are expected to return.

Babí léto is the Czech equivalent of what English speakers often call “Indian summer,” though “second summer” is now the preferred term. While second summer typically refers to unseasonably warm weather in October or November, babí léto generally occurs in September or early November.

Its name, literally “grandmother’s summer” may refer to the delicate cobwebs visible on shrubs and trees at this time of year, reminiscent of strands of gray hair, or to the early-morning mist rising from rivers and ponds as warm sunlight meets cooling water.

Some folkloric interpretations also link babí léto to the visibility of the Pleiades star cluster, known in Czech as “the grandmothers,” a celestial sign of late autumn.

Historically, the period around late September is sometimes called Svatováclavské léto, or St. Wenceslas’s Summer, after the country’s patron saint.

Meteorologists attribute the short warm spell to a high-pressure system moving from the southwest, bringing warmer air into Central Europe. Temperatures will peak in the afternoons, while mornings remain cool. By Friday, cloudier skies are expected to lower daytime highs slightly.

This brief return to warmer weather is a welcome reprieve after an unusually cold and rainy October, and it offers a final chance for outdoor activities before winter arrives. Parks, forests, and riverbanks across the country are likely to see more walkers, cyclists, and photo seekers enjoying the soft autumn light.