Despite a colder-than-average January in lowland areas, trees across Austria began their growth cycle nearly a week earlier than the long-term average, according to phenological observations from Geosphere Austria.
The early onset of vegetation was driven by unusually mild temperatures in February, which triggered an earlier start to the growing season, explained phenologist Kerstin Haslehner. “The mild February led to an earlier onset of the vegetation period,” she said.
Apple trees showed the strongest response, budding an average of 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 baseline. Horse chestnut followed with a seven-day advance, and Norway maple budded six days ahead of schedule.
Flowering also arrived early: apricot trees bloomed about nine days ahead of normal, and sweet cherry trees opened their blossoms six days earlier than usual.
Haslehner cautioned that while the trend toward earlier growth and flowering continues, late frosts remain a risk. “Budding and flowering are advancing, but frost periods can still occur,” she warned, noting that climate warming increases the danger of frost damage to new shoots and blossoms.
So far this year, no damaging frost events have been reported that threatened the harvest.
Compared to the 1961–1990 average, nature’s cycle is now approximately 13 days ahead, with pre-spring and early spring phases arriving five to seven days earlier than in recent decades.
