Spring 2021: 2.2 Degrees Colder than Average

The ASTA weather bulletin has revealed that a cold spring with close to normal rainfall caused a late but satisfactory start to the vegetation of agricultural crops in Luxembourg.

As spring 2021 draws to a close, AgriMeteo, the national meteorological service of the ASTA (Administration des services techniques de l'agriculture) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Viticulture and Rural Development, published its weather analysis for the period from 1 March to 31 May 2021.

The analysis looked at the network of 32 automatic weather stations across the Grand Duchy. The three-month values of four representative stations, i.e. Asselborn (north), Clemency (south-west), Remich (Mosel) and Grevenmacher (Mosel), were compared with the averages of the reference period 1991-2020.

March 2021 was characterised by variable weather. The end of the month saw very mild temperatures for the season with temperature peaks of 25.4 °C in Clemency, 25.3 °C in Oberkorn, 25.2 °C in Remerschen and 25.0 °C in Remich. In terms of rain, the month of March showed a deficit in the north and south of the country, while the Moselle valley was close to average.

After record temperatures at the end of March, April saw the return of polar air masses, with below average temperatures of −3.0 °C and freezing nights. While it rained in the first week, the rest of April saw a rain deficit across the country.

Temperatures in May remained below seasonal averages except for the last weekend, and the start of the month even saw freezing nights. In terms of rainfall, May recorded very heavy showers and accumulations.

Vegetation for all crops started very slowly due to low temperatures in early spring. Winter crops, especially cereals, are in a very satisfactory condition, but the growth of meadows and pastures and the germination of maize in late April / early May have been delayed.

Late frosts have left their mark on orchards and vineyards, but the damage caused varies depending on the location of the orchard and the precocity of the varieties and grape varieties cultivated.