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The ice saints originate from old country lore and are associated with cold and frost.
There are five ice saints in May: Mammertus (on May 11), Pankratius (on May 12), Servatius (on May 13), Boniface (on May 14), and Sophia (on May 15).
Contrary to their name, the ice saints are not so icy: as an evaluation of the values from the past decades by Geosphere Austria shows, there are typically no cold spells in the days from 12 to 15 May.
Are frosty nights typical for the Ice Saints period? “The data from the last 80 years or so for various regions of Austria show that frost does not occur with above-average frequency on the date of the Ice Saints, from May 12 to 15,” said Alexander Orlik, climatologist at Geosphere Austria.
Less frost due to climate change
Nevertheless, it makes sense only to place or plant sensitive plants outdoors after the Ice Saints“. This is because the risk of ground frost is most frequent in the first third of May, significantly less frequent in the second third of May – the time of the Ice Saints – and in the last third of May, ground frost rarely or never occurs in the inhabited regions of Austria.
Overall, the likelihood of frost in May has decreased due to global warming in recent decades,” said Orlik.
Many plants have already had their first shots and are beginning to flower. Fruit and vegetable plants, in particular, can be severely damaged by frost. To be on the safe side, frost-sensitive plants should not be sown or planted until the end of May.
Ground frost only every five years
Ground frost in May is relatively rare in Austria. In the recent past (climate period 1991 to 2020), there was a day with ground frost in the first third of May on average every five years in Vienna and Salzburg, every two to three years in Feldkirch and Klagenfurt, and every one to two years in Innsbruck.
On the other hand, in the last third of May, a day with ground frost occurs on average every five years in Klagenfurt and every three to four years in Innsbruck. In Vienna, Salzburg, and Feldkirch, the probability of ground frost in the last third of May is almost zero.
Higher areas are more affected
Ground frost is slightly more common in higher valleys in May. For example, in Lienz in Tyrol (661 meters above sea level) and Irdning in Styria (697 meters), there has been an average of one to two days of ground frost per year in the first third of May in the recent past (climate period 1991 to 2020).
In the third week of May, there was only one day of ground frost here every two to three years.
How frosty it will be next week
The freezing temperatures won’t be too cold next week either. Although it will remain a little too cool for May, the current forecast is that there will only be isolated frosts in the inhabited regions of Austria, such as in places in the Waldviertel, Mühlviertel, and some Alpine valleys.
Farmers’ proverbs also show the importance of the Ice Saints, who are supposed to bring winter back once again:
Weather sayings for the Ice Saints from May 11 to 15:
Mamertus, Pankratius, and afterwards Servatius are stern gentlemen; they like to annoy the farmers and winegrowers.
If it freezes on St. Pankratius, much is ruined in the garden.
If St. Pankratius is beautiful, you will see good wine.
Servaz must be over if you want to be safe from night frost.
No summer before Boniface, no frost after Sophie.
The cold Sophie brings a downpour at the end.
Meteorological significance of the ice saints
According to wetter.com, the cold spells in May, as observed during the ice saints, are caused by the different warming of land and water surfaces.
While land warms up faster due to the sun’s rays, the oceans and seas stay cooler for longer. These temperature differences, in combination with large-scale air currents and pressure areas, mean that cold polar air can penetrate to the south. This interplay between cold and warm air is characteristic of May.
- source: kurier.at/picture: Image by Alfons Landsmann from Pixabay
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