Sub-zero temperatures at night

Styrian farmers fear frost damage

The current sub-zero temperatures in the morning hours could have fatal consequences.

(Bild: zonch - stock.adobe.com)

Frosty nights are currently plaguing Styrian agriculture. Fruit growers in particular are worried about the many young fruits that the warm start to April brought with it. What they could be facing and how to prepare.

Minus degrees at night - maximum temperatures of around ten degrees during the day. What is merely unpleasant for city dwellers is currently becoming a danger for Styrian fruit growers. Since Tuesday, Styria has been in the grip of a temperature drop. "First we had the highest temperature of 31.7 degrees in Deutschlandsberg, two days later it snowed there," says Ubimet meteorologist Nikolas Zimmermann.

The fatal thing: "This year, all fruit varieties have already finished flowering - two to three weeks earlier than usual. Small fruits are already hanging on the tree that can withstand a maximum of minus two degrees," says Herbert Muster, head of the fruit growing department at the Styrian Chamber of Agriculture. Clear, windless nights in the valleys are particularly tricky.

Fruit trees are watered on frosty nights to protect them from sub-zero temperatures.

(Bild: Landwirtschaftskammer Steiermark)

Some farmers had to take safety measures on Friday night to prevent the worst from happening: Dozens of apple, apricot and cherry trees were watered throughout the frosty night. "This forms an ice shield and the fruit is protected down to minus six degrees," explains Muster.

Horror year 2016 must not be repeated
He fears: "We had a similar situation in 2016. Back then, there was a total crop failure due to frosty nights - we don't want to experience that again." Cold snaps like those in April have become an even greater danger than the ice saints in May.

Temperatures of up to 30 degrees were unusual for April. The current temperatures are only surprising because the first half of the month was so unusually warm.

Nikolas Zimmermann, Meteorologe bei Ubimet

However, the high temperatures were more unusual than the low temperatures this year, says the meteorologist. "The current temperatures are only surprising because the first half of the month was so unusually warm," says Zimmermann. We will have to be patient with comparable spring temperatures for the time being, and rain and snow are expected again in the middle of the week. The Gesäuse, Ausseerland and Mariazellerland in particular are feeling the effects of the northerly current.

However, fruit growers are still optimistic that they can defy the new onset of winter. Vegetable cultivation is mostly protected by foil tunnels anyway, and pumpkin cultivation in the fields should wait until the beginning of May, says Muster from the Chamber of Agriculture.