Four seasons in a day! That’s what you can expect to experience in South Carolina during the fall season. However, non-Southern out-of-state students have to learn this concept — usually the hard way — especially with hurricane season in full force.
Hurricane season usually occurs between the months of September to November, leaving tropical storms, blackouts and, if you are lucky, cancelled classes. It is not uncommon to have this type of weather phenomenon affect the South.
Overall, the state of South Carolina does not follow the normal patterns that Mother Nature sets forth for the rest of the world.
During the fall season, when you wake up in the morning, there may be a chill in the air, perfect for a Summer Moon coffee or a pumpkin spice latte. Midmorning feels perfect like springtime. The weather then rolls into midafternoon, where the temperature feels like summertime on a humid July afternoon that requires a sweet tea or lemonade to cool off. Only to be followed by sunset, where the temperatures may fluctuate between a fall and winter feel, providing a great excuse for a variety of beverages to warm you up.
Keep in mind, winters in the South are very different from those to which our Northern friends are accustomed.
So how do you dress, you ask? Well, with short sleeves, it’s best to wear a light jacket, sweater or sweatshirt that can be removed by midday and worn again after the sun sets. Layering is almost a must. And if you opt for long sleeves, be prepared to roll them up by midday and roll them back down at sunset. While the etiquette of the old Southern ways doesn’t allow for white pants or white shoes after Labor Day, shorts are optional year-round.
As a lifelong Southerner, I remember one Halloween, on our porch, we still had summer flowers in our planters, carved jack-o’-lanterns, fall leaves and it was snowing. No one thought it was unusual or out of the ordinary; it was just a typical fall day in the South.
Karis Easler is a senior world cinema major from Greenville, South Carolina. Karis can be reached at [email protected].
