After snow

The great trembling before the frosty nights

A little snow does little damage to flowers and plants - frost is a different story(Bild: Roland Holitzky)

Carinthia's fruit growers and hobby gardeners are keeping a close eye on the weather forecast: There is a threat of cold nights, which could jeopardize the harvest. The Lavanttal fruit region is particularly affected.

Within 48 hours, the temperature in Villach dropped by 29.8 degrees on Tuesday, 25 centimetres of snow fell on the Nassfeld and even large parts of Carinthia were covered in a blanket of white. While branches have snapped and trees have fallen under the weight of the snow, the white splendor poses little danger to plants and flowers. "Depending on the amount of precipitation, snow falls even at a few degrees above zero. However, frost causes damage to the blossom or the young fruit," explains Siegfried Quendler, head of the fruit growing research institute in St. Andrä im Lavanttal.

Crop failure is possible
Whether a complete crop failure is to be feared or quality damage occurs depends on a number of factors. Quendler: "We're talking about a few tenths of a degree."

A picture that is more reminiscent of December than April.(Bild: ROLAND_HOLITZKY)

Fruit growers use various methods to protect the sensitive blossoms from sub-zero temperatures. From special candles to "frost rain". However, Quendler advises against spraying the blossoming fruit trees in your own garden with water: "Incorrect spraying can also cause frost damage to the blossoms."

Lavant Valley particularly at risk
The greatest risk of frost is on Friday night. "From Upper Carinthia via the Gurktal to the upper Lavanttal, lows of up to minus three degrees are to be expected," explains meteorologist Alexander Hedenig from GeoSphere Carinthia. With a bit of luck, temperatures from Villach to the lower Lavant Valley might not fall below zero degrees at all or only very briefly. "Light showers on Thursday will increase the humidity. This will cause fog in some parts of the basin. And this fog won't allow temperatures to drop too low," explains the weather expert.