Farmer's Rule Wobbles: Hardly Any Frost During the Ice Saints Anymore

The Ice Saints – from May 12 to 15 – are traditionally considered frosty days. Sayings like "Pankrazi, Servazi, Bonifazi are three frosty rascals. And in the end, cold Sophie is never missing." emphasize this reputation. However, current data from Geosphere Austria contradicts this image: In recent decades, no above-average frequent frost nights occurred during the Ice Saints.

"Frost does not occur more frequently during the Ice Saints than in other May periods," explains climatologist Alexander Orlik. The basis is temperature evaluations from the last 80 years for various regions of Austria.

The probability of frost has noticeably decreased in recent decades. Between 1991 and 2020, in Vienna and Salzburg, an average of one day with ground frost was recorded every five years in the first third of May. In Klagenfurt and Feldkirch, it was every two to three years, in Innsbruck every one to two years.

In the second third of May – during the time of the Ice Saints – ground frost occurs significantly less frequently. In the last third of May, it is hardly measurable in inhabited regions like Vienna or Feldkirch.

In higher regions like Lienz (661 m) or Irdning (697 m), frost in May is still an issue. In the first third of May, one to two days with ground frost occur annually. In the third of May, however, only every two to three years.

According to the forecast by Geosphere Austria, it will remain only moderately cool in the coming week. Frost is hardly expected in inhabited areas. Only in some Alpine valleys and in the Waldviertel and Mühlviertel could temperatures drop below zero in some places.

Even though the Ice Saints are rarely frosty today, the advice of gardeners remains valid: Sensitive plants should, to be safe, only be placed outside after mid-May.

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