Severe Cold Ahead, but Snow Cover Benefits Agriculture

Extreme cold is expected on Friday morning in several parts of Hungary: temperatures may drop below minus 15 degrees Celsius over large areas, and in some places it may become colder than minus 20 degrees, meteorological service HungaroMet reported. Weather warnings have been issued for several counties – the second-level (orange) warning for extreme cold has not been issued for almost five years, most recently in February 2021.

The Hungarian meteorological service warns that temperatures will fall rapidly overnight as winds weaken and skies clear over large areas above the thick snow cover, allowing strong radiational cooling. Conditions may be less severe in the northwestern part of Transdanubia, where cloud cover associated with the next weather system is expected to arrive, limiting heat loss.

According to an infographic published with the forecast, second-level warnings are in effect for Bács-Kiskun, Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok and Nógrád counties, where temperatures may drop below minus 20 degrees Celsius. First-level (yellow) warnings have been issued for Somogy, Tolna, Baranya, Veszprém, Komárom-Esztergom, Csongrád-Csanád, Békés, Hajdú-Bihar, Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and Heves counties, where temperatures may fall below minus 15 degrees on Friday.

According to HungaroMet’s agrometeorological analysis published on Thursday,

the recent arrival of snow and cold weather has been favorable from an agricultural perspective.

A continuous snow cover of 10–20 centimeters has formed across most of the country, with only the northwestern regions seeing a thinner layer of 2–8 centimeters.

Over the past ten days, precipitation totals have generally ranged between 10 and 40 millimeters, with the highest amounts falling on the Great Plain, that has been the most affected by precipitation shortages. However, the total precipitation over the past 30 days remains 10–30 millimeters below average across the northern two-thirds of the country, while southern areas are around average.

Photo: MTI/Kocsis Zoltán

Over a 90-day period, precipitation deficits of 10–70 millimeters compared to the long-term average are observed in most areas, with the largest shortfalls in the eastern Great Plain, while small areas in the north show a surplus. The upper one-meter layer of soil is saturated with moisture in western and northern regions, but on the Great Plain the soil remains dry below depths of 30–40 centimeters. By spring, at least the upper one meter of soil would need to be replenished to provide sufficient moisture reserves for crops during the next summer.

Temperatures have dropped significantly this week, and on Wednesday, near-nationwide all-day frost occurred for the first time this winter. In clear areas above the thick snow cover, temperatures dropped below minus 15 degrees Celsius in some places by Thursday morning. The upper 3–10 centimeters of soil have frozen across the country, and standing waters have also frozen over.

Oilseed rape and winter cereals are currently dormant beneath the snow. The snow cover is highly beneficial, protecting crops from frost damage and allowing meltwater to seep slowly into the soil.

The forecast indicates that hard, unusually severe sub-zero temperatures will persist for the next 6–8 days, with more significant warming possible only in the second half of next week.

Light snowfall is expected in several areas until Tuesday, and freezing rain may occur in southwestern regions on Friday, although snowfall comparable to that of recent days is unlikely. Snow cover is expected to remain across much of the country until the middle of next week. Temperatures will stay below average, with severe night-time frosts and daytime freezing conditions likely. On clear nights, temperatures may fall below minus 15 degrees Celsius.

Cold Wave Intensifies as Emergency Services Remain on High Alert