FROST IN APRIL 2017

Abstract

Almost a year after a catastrophic frost in 2016, Slovenia was again captured by a strong cold spell which caused frost in the magnitude of a natural disaster from April 20 to April 22, 2017. It followed a very long period of warm spring weather. Due to the above average spring temperatures, the phenological development of plants had been accelerated, and the cooling coincided with the sprouting of leaves and flowering of all species of fruit tree, which are very sensitive to spring frosts. The plants were affected by the frost in their most sensitive phases of development on 8,147 hectares of agricultural land, with vineyards and orchards being most affected. The estimated damage amounted to around EUR 47 million; the geographical distribution of the damage and affected agricultural areas was mainly dependent on the intensity of fruit and wine growing in each region. By far the worst affected were the Posavje region, East Styria and the Podravska region. Two consecutive catastrophic frosts and a fierce drought once again indicate that it is necessary to systematically encourage investment to reduce the risk to agricultural production of unfavourable weather conditions.