whippoorwill winter
The last cool snap of spring, right when whippoorwills start calling.
Also called woolen britches winter.
Updated September 24, 2026
whippoorwill winter pronunciation
/WIP-er-will WIN-ter/
Meaning
Whippoorwill winter is one of the little winters mountain folks name after blooms and birds. It hits late May or early June, milder than dogwood or blackberry winter. You hear the whippoorwill at dusk, dig a sweater back out, and know real summer is almost here. Garden old-timers used these snaps to time planting.
How folks use it
- “Don't put the quilts away yet. Whippoorwill winter ain't done with us.”
- “We got a whippoorwill winter last week and the tomatoes sulled up overnight.”
Origin and etymology
Appalachian and Southern weather lore. Farmers named short spring cold spells after what was blooming or singing then. Whippoorwill winter marks when the birds return from the south, usually the last cool breath before summer sticks.
Frequently asked questions
Is whippoorwill winter a real forecast?
It is folklore, not a Weather Channel alert. Cool snaps do show up around then, but the date wobbles year to year.