The weather is completely unpredictable. Over the course of a few days, the temperature dropped significantly in Hungary as well. Thursday, snowfall and frost were reported in several areas of Hungary. The April cold is not only dangerous for our health but also for the vegetation.
As we wrote before, after how pleasant the weather was earlier, this week has brought huge changes. The National Meteorological Service (OMSZ) advised that anyone who leaves their home should dress warmly because the temperature could drop significantly. However, the change in weather not only disrupted the biorhythm of humans but also endangered plants’.
“Unfortunately, the jam and pálinka fauna is finding it increasingly difficult to fight,”
writes the National Meteorological Service in a Facebook post. This alludes to the problem that snowfall and freezing temperatures can cause the loss of plants. With the freezing of the plants, there will not be enough ingredients for making jam or pálinka, the special Hungarian brandy, writes Index.hu.
In addition, agriculture has to fight on several fronts. “Fruit growers are fighting the frost, while droughts and the coronavirus epidemic are also affecting agriculture,” said Minister of Agriculture István Nagy.
No significant change in the weather is expected in the near future.
Temperatures around freezing at night can be expected in the coming days. According to the weather forecast, freezing is expected until Sunday. After that, the temperature will increase. István Nagy asks fruit growers and those working in agriculture to assess the damage, as they can count on the support of the remediation fund this year as well.
The Ministry of Agriculture also recommends that farmers protect plantations that are just beginning to bloom with fire and smoke. There is a ban on making fires, but defence is an exception to the ban. OMSZ points out that not only frost but also strong winds and low rainfall are hampering agricultural work. The weather caused damage especially in the southern and central parts of Hungary.
According to meteorologist László Molnár, such cold and extreme weather in April has occurred before, but the frequency of the phenomenon is increasing. According to Molnár, it is important to understand that climate change is not just about warming, but that both the strength and frequency of extreme weather conditions are increasing.
On Wednesday, it might snow in places in Hungary again, but you should expect quick showers as well. North-Eastern winds will remain strong during the whole day, and the temperature will only be 5 or 11 °C even in the afternoon.
According to idokep.hu, Thursday morning will bring freezes, too.
Somewhere in the Mátra. Péter Komka/MTI
The day will be cloudy, and there could be showers and even snow in many parts of Hungary, mostly in the Eastern and North-Eastern regions. The temperature will only reach 6-11 °C.
Márta hills, April 6. Péter Komka/MTI
This is how snow fell yesterday in Karcag, Eastern-Hungary:
However, from Friday on, the warming will start. Sunny periods will be longer during the days, and meteorologists expect only some clouds in the sky. There will be no rainfall, but winds will remain strong. The expected temperature is between 10-17 °C.
Here is a video of yesterday’s snowfall in Püspökladány:
At the weekend, the Southern and Southwestern parts of the country will be windy. But by Sunday, daybreak frosts will disappear, and in the afternoon, the temperature is expected to reach 20 °C. There will be no rainfalls, and the day will be sunny.
The treacherous Easter weather will soon turn into cold temperatures, intensive wind, and snowfall in Hungary. Weather forecast for this week.
The sunny, windy weather of the last few days takes an unexpected turn for Tuesday morning. Precipitation is expected in several directions along the cold front, which carries frosty air and stormy winds from the northwest.
On Tuesday morning, the rain will be replaced by snowfall mainly in the western, northern, and northeastern parts of the country.
A permanent layer of snow is expected only on the mountain peaks; however, in the north, northeast, and especially in the higher landscapes, 5-6 centimetres of snow may remain temporarily, until late afternoon.
As Hungarian news portal Szeretlek Magyarország reports, the cold front brings cold, arctic air from the northwest, as a result of which the weather will be much colder than expected on Wednesday and Thursday.
It will even freeze in several places at night.
In addition, strong, stormy winds and snowstorms can be expected. In the afternoon, only 4-9°C will be measured.
On Wednesday, the sunny and cloudy weather may bring snow showers and thunders. The northwest wind will be strong, sometimes stormy. The temperature will be between -6°C and +1°C in the morning, while +6 and +11°C can be expected in the afternoon.
On Thursday, the sunny-cloudy weather will be accompanied by snow showers and thunderstorms in some parts of Hungary, with a daily temperature between 6°C and 11°C.
By the end of this week, the harsh weather will become springy again: warming can be expected from Friday.
By the end of the 21st century, Hungarian winemakers should expect a natural environment similar to the one near the Mediterranean Sea today, Attila Buzási, an assistant professor at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, said in a recently published paper. According to the expert, growing olaszrizling (Italian Riesling), kadarka, or hárslevelű will be uncertain. However, in the case of red wines, vintners might improve not only quality but also competitiveness, thanks to climate change.
According to 24.hu, consumers need to get used to the idea that they will not get the same quality, taste, and quantity from Hungarian winemakers because of extreme weather conditions. Based on the forecasts, the weather will become warmer in Hungary in the next decades, thanks to climate change. Furthermore, the intensity and the pattern of the rainfall will be much more volatile than today.
This process has a significant effect on the winegrowing and winemaking industry and will affect the quality of the wines as well. For example,
such iconic Hungarian grape types as the Italian Riesling (olaszrizling), kadarka, or hárslevelű are sensitive to these conditions.
Based on some climate models, the weather in Hungary will dramatically change in the 21st century. As a result, almost no wine regions will have the same weather conditions as at the beginning of the 2000s.
The effects of climate change on the Hungarian wine regions can be eloquently illustrated with the case of the Szekszárd wine region.
Today, the pattern of rainfalls is much more volatile than the national average in that region. Furthermore, thanks to its southern location, the temperature is higher there than the Hungarian average. However, in the future, there will be more intense droughts in the region because of climate change.
To make matters worse, the
grape types typical in the wine region are sensitive.
However, the changes can help, for example, the Blue Frankish, which is climatically more resistant.
Attila Buzási said that climate change did not equal global warming. He added that the increasing frequency of extreme weather is also dangerous. Therefore, he said that the winemakers had to adapt and even resettle.
That means that, by the end of the 21st century, the location of the Hungarian wine regions will be different than today.
President János Áder has joined current and former heads of state, former heads of government, ministers, leaders of international NGOs and large corporations on a panel promoting implementation of the global goals set so far on water management and climate protection.
Áder will take a role in the Water and Climate Management Board at the request of the heads of the World Meteorological Organisation and UN Water Coordinating Organisation, the president’s office said in a statement on Wednesday.
The members of the fifteen-member panel invited from the five continents will focus on “mutually reinforcing, practical solutions” related to data processing, education, regulation, collaboration and funding.
Improving water management will largely hinge on making investments that aid the adaptation to climate change, improving public health and the resilience of societies to epidemics, as well as food security and the stability of economies, the statement said.
At the first meeting,
Áder said the social and economic impacts of climate and water problems must be addressed in their context,
and that he would promote practical solutions developed by the board in both domestic and international forums.
At the end of November, the body is scheduled to hold a working meeting in Hungary as part of the sustainability expo and Planet Budapest world conference.
Hungary’s temperature rose to a record high on February 26. The mercury hit 22.4°C in Kiskunfélegyháza, southern Hungary, on Friday, the national weather service said on its Facebook page.
The previous record of 20.7 was measured in Baja-Csávoly in southern Hungary in 2008.
A record 20 degrees were measured in Budapest’s fourth district, replacing the Budapest record of 18.9 degrees registered in the 11th district, the weather service said.
The temperatures are equivalent to average end-of-May temperatures, OMSZ said.
A cold front is expected to arrive in the last days of winter. The temperature may be as high as 20 degrees on Friday, but on Saturday, the peaks will only be around 10 degrees, with snowfall probable in the mountains.
According to the National Meteorological Service, we can expect clear, sunny weather on Friday, but in northern Transdanubia and in the north-eastern counties, the sun will only be visible in the late afternoon. Precipitation is unlikely.
Temperature is expected to be 15-20 degrees during the day, but in more permanently overcast, misty landscapes, it may be a few degrees cooler.
On Saturday, we will wake up to a cloudy sky and a cold front marching from north to south. However, several hours of sunshine can be expected during the day. Sporadic rain and showers may occur to the east of the Danube. Showers cannot be ruled out in the mountains either.
The wind will be lively in many places and very strong in others. During the day, it can be expected that the air heats up to 8-13 degrees.
Sunday brings less sunshine in the eastern and northeastern landscapes. No significant precipitation is expected, but showers may form in some parts of the eastern and northeastern counties. A minimum temperature of -4 to +2 and a maximum temperature of 7 to 12 degrees are likely, sums up Blikk.
A lot of sunshine is expected on the weekend, and snow can only be expected in some places. The National Meteorological Service says that we need to prepare for cold temperatures and freezing during the day; in some cases, we might even measure minus 20 degrees in the morning.
Several hours of sunshine are expected in most of the country on Saturday. There may be more cloudy periods, mainly in the north-eastern and eastern landscapes and in Western Transdanubia. There may be snow showers here and there, but they are more likely in the northeast.
The lowest temperatures are likely to be between minus 14 and minus 8 degrees, but in clear, wind-protected, snowy areas, they can measure up to minus 20 degrees.
According to Index, the maximum temperature will vary between minus 7 and minus 1 degree.
There might be occasional snow showers on Sunday. During the day, the sun will shine for several hours, while in the eastern part of the country, there may be more cloudy areas.
Photo: MTI/Varga György
The northern and north-west winds can be expected to strengthen. During the coldest hours, the temperature will usually be between minus 12 and minus 5 degrees, but in clear, wind-protected, snowy parts, it can even reach 16 degrees.
Daytime maximum temperatures are expected to vary between minus 5 and plus 3 degrees.
There have been several accidents on the roads across the country after the expected freezing cold weather arrived in Hungary on Thursday morning.
The National Directorate General for Disaster Management (OKF) reported that firefighters were alerted to hundreds of cases across the country in the timespan of only a few hours due to snow and strong winds. According to Telex, accidents are typically caused by broken branches, fallen trees and stuck vehicles.
The weather is causing the most problems in Borsod – Abaúj – Zemplén county (North Hungary). Index writes that the county’s professional, municipal and volunteer firefighters are constantly working to eliminate the damage.
What else can we expect?
Further alerts have been issued for almost the entire country due to the brutal weather.
Strong snowstorms are expected in the north-eastern regions, while the snow is also expected to deepen in some places (central landscapes of Transdanubia, parts of Pest county).
However, according to Időkép, significant rainfall is not expected in the next few days, sunshine will slowly take over. The air will cool down a lot at night, hard frosts are expected.
Temperatures can drop below -10 degrees in several places on Friday and Saturday morning, but especially in valleys covered with thicker snow, which can be as cold as -20 degrees.
In frosty weather there is a good chance that Lake Balaton will freeze as well.
By Sunday, the frost will soften a bit, but the cold weather will remain.
The last month of the winter does not pass without significant cooling. The week starts with a maximum of around 10°C. Still, while in the second half of the week, serious minuses can be expected, at dawn there will be values around minus 20°C. The freezing temperatures will be accompanied by snow and sleet, according to the forecast of the National Meteorological Service.
The cloudy, rainy weather on Monday – with an average daily maximum of 12°C – is followed by sleet and snowfall on Tuesday, with a minimum temperature of -6 to +3°C and a maximum temperature between 0 to +9°C. On Wednesday, a cyclone will reach Hungary, bringing 8-10°C in the southern part of the country, and rain, snow, freezing temperatures in the north and northwest.
On Thursday evening, the rain will be replaced by snow in the whole country, accompanied by a strong wind.
With the wind, an arctic cold will break in, causing cooling of nearly 20°C within hours in some parts of the country.
As Pénzcentrum reports, by Friday morning, the air in these parts can cool down to -7, -10°C. Just like in mid-January, Hungarians can enjoy beautiful sceneries on Friday as with the arrival of the cold, precipitation will gradually disappear, and even a layer of snow above 10 cm can be expected across the country, which the stormy wind can carry. It is expected to snow the longest in the east, where it can last until Friday noon.
For Saturday and Sunday, freezing temperatures will arrive in Hungary.
Temperatures between -15 and -23°C are likely at an altitude of about 1500m, which may be one of the coldest winter periods in recent years.
During the weekend, the temperature may drop below -20°C at dawn, and the snowy, wind-protected landscapes may fall below that. Temperatures during the day are forecasted to be between -5 and -12°C – reported by Metkép.
A record hot 16 degrees were recorded on Friday in Főnyed, southwest Hungary, the Hungarian Meteorological Service (OMSZ) has said.
The highest temperature ever recorded in Hungary on January 22, before today, had been 15.5 degrees Celsius measured in Ásotthalom, southern Hungary, in 1956, OMSZ said.
Although the sky over most of the country wass very cloudy and the weather was rainy in several places, the sunshine helped to break the previous record.
UPDATE: The town of Sellye in Baranya County seems to have the “race” by 16.6 degrees – in all likelihood this value will be verified later.
UPDATE2:
New Hungarian maximum: 16.5 ° C (Nagyatád) New Hungarian minimum: 10.1 ° C (Pér Airport)
I think many people would agree that 2020 was, by far, not the best year. Many people were stuck at home and could not travel anywhere, or even worse. And although the domestic vacationer’s main destination was Lake Balaton, we are sure that many foreigners miss the Hungarian sea, as it is nicknamed. Hopefully, with this article, we can remind you of pleasant memories and convince you to visit Lake Balaton when it will be possible.
As Szeretlek Magyarország wrote, people love the “Hungarian sea”, they like to play and swim in the water, walk on the shore, take photos at sunset, but most of the people have no idea how strange or special the things surrounding us truly are, so here are ten interesting things about Lake Balaton for you to impress other people with:
1 – Dimensions
Lake Balaton is the largest lake in Central Europe. Its length is 77 km, the smallest width is at Tihany, where it is only 1.5 km wide, while the longest distance between the two shores is at Balatonvilágos and Balatonalmádi, where the lake is 12.7 km wide. The surface of the lake is 600 km² in total. Lake Balaton’s deepest point is in the deepest ditch of the Tihanyi-szoros (Tihany Gorge), at the Tihanyi-kút (Tihany Well). There, the bottom of the lake is 11-12.5 metres deep.
The total water volume of Lake Balaton is a whopping 1,800 million m³. Its entire water volume is replaced in 2.2 years. To provide its own fresh water supply, it has a total surface of 5,774 km² of drainage basin around the lake.
Photo: www.facebook.com/BalatonFelvidek.hu/
3 – Strange waves
It is somewhat strange for a lake to have waves as the Hungarian Lake Balaton does. Even just the wind is capable of quickly forming waves. The main reasons behind this are its relatively shallow depth and the low viscosity of the hot summer water. The predominant wind direction blows perpendicular to the lake, from the northwest.
The special effect of the mountains and valleys of the Balaton Uplands is that they cause the wind to “throb”. This throbbing is what causes periods of sudden waves and ripples in the lake, which is then followed by a wave-free period. Additionally, the waves are unusually steep for a lake: the highest waves measured were 1.82 metres near the shore and 1.95 metres in the middle of the lake. The length of the waves is usually between 2 to 12 metres. The water surface needs 2 hours for the furious waves to calm down after the wind has settled.
4 – Sunshine
Due to the special climate of the area, the number of hours of sunshine on the shores averages around 2,000 hours a year, and the sunniest month is June. During the summer season, on average, there are only 5-6 completely overcast days, and usually, the least rainy period is in August and September, with only six days each month when it rains.
While it is only January, and the summer season is not even on the horizon yet, you can still bring the summer spirit to your home by making some Hungarian dishes from around Lake Balaton.
5 – Forecasting
At Lake Balaton, the forecasting of storms officially started on July 8, 1934, on the initiative of Flight Colonel Alfréd Hille, the organiser of both the military and the civil aviation meteorological network.
Photo: www.facebook.com/tagyonbirtok
6 – Eel haven
Although many species of fish live in its water, one of the special things about Lake Balaton is its eels. According to a 2010 study, the lake’s eel population is one of the oldest in Europe: the average age of eels living in Lake Balaton is 24.9 years.
7 – Swan Lake
Lake Balaton is not just favourable to eels, but it is also one of the most important waterbird habitats in Europe, with reeds providing nesting space for many different bird species. The largest flying bird living in and around Lake Balaton is the bütykös hattyú (mute swan). The bird builds a large floating nest in the reeds and often raises its cygnets near the beaches and promenades near the shore because the vacationers and beach-goers feed them regularly.
8 – Crossing
The birth of Hungarian swimming as organised sports is linked to Kálmán Szekrényessy. He was the first person to officially swim across the lake, crossing it between Siófok and Balatonfüred on August 29, 1880. For his honour, the birthday of Hungarian swimming is celebrated on August 29.
9 – There is chemistry
Many people say that the waters of Lake Balaton are velvety and soft, or silky and caressing. Nowadays, this can mostly be felt only on the open water towards the middle of the lake, but the composition of the water is unique: some even call it Balaton water. The water’s main characteristics are the following: pH 8.4, so it is alkaline, Ca content 27–80 mg/l, Mg content 35–48 mg/l, total salinity 280–320 mg/l, suspended solids content 2–123 mg/l, transparency 12–130 cm, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) 2.8–7.3 mg/l.
10 – Location
Lake Balaton is located in three counties: Somogy, Zala, and Veszprém counties. The lake and its surroundings belong to the Lake Balaton priority resort area and include a total of 179 settlements.
Hungarians woke up to beautiful sceneries as there was snow at night and at dawn in the Danube Bend and around the capital. Dense snowfall resulted in a few centimeters of snow cover in the affected areas in a short period of time.
Temperatures across the country ranged from -1 to +2 degrees at dawn. Temperature between -1 and +5 during the day and between 0 and -6 in the late evening is expected.
According to Telex, scattered snowfall in the eastern landscapes are possible even more permanently.
Photo: www.facebook.com/Rizsavi Tamás
Photo: www.facebook.com/Rizsavi Tamás
Photo: MTI/Szigetváry Zsolt
Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán
Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán
By Thursday evening, snowfalls and snow showers can usually form up to 5 centimeters of fresh snow, but locally even more can expected. However, there is a greater chance of this in the eastern and northeastern regions.
Snowfall in Debrecen,
MTI/Czeglédi Zsolt
Snowfall in Nyíregyháza,
MTI/Balázs Attila
The National Meteorological Service also issued warnings about the danger of sleet, snow and strong winds. According to the latest alerts:
there is a risk of sleet in Somogy and Zala counties,
a first level warning was issued to Hajdú-Bihar and Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg counties.
According to Időkép, sunshine will often be disturbed by cloud passes and snowfall on Friday. The north-northwest wind will be strong in the Transdanubia region and the central landscapes. By dawn, the air can cool down to around -10 degrees in snowy, windier, clearer landscapes. In the afternoon the temperature will be between -3 and +3 degrees.
In Hungary, the weather was much warmer than usual, but the amount of precipitation was average in 2020, the Hungarian Meteorological Information Services (OMSZ) stated in its analysis submitted to MTI. Overall, 2020 was 1.2 °C warmer than the average for the period between 1981-2010, ranking sixth in the temperature ranking since 1901, finishing just next to 2000.
24 writes that the domestic temperature conditions of 2020 thus fit the global warming trend. OMSZ explained that the weather in 2020 was characterised by a mild start, followed by a droughty, cold, and frosty spring. Summer and autumn had extreme rainfall distribution, and then the year was closed with a very mild December.
When comparing 2020 to other years by season, last winter was the third-hottest, while spring was the third-driest since 1901.
2020 began with an average though very dry January, followed by mild and windy, almost spring-like February. It was almost 10 °C warmer than the overall average for a few days. In Drávaszabolcs, the temperature rose to 18.2 °C on February 2, thus breaking the daily heat record.
The usual winter weather got pushed way into the second half of March, when severe frosts hit the country; on March 24, a continuous layer of snow formed in Southern Transdanubia and the Southern Great Plain. In 2020, the greatest snow thickness, 28 centimetres, was measured on March 25 in Máza, Baranya County. There was also frost across the country on the first few days of April, even: national daily minimum temperature records were broken.
In April, precipitation was only a third of normal trends, and in May, it was just over half of the usual. 2020 saw the third-driest spring in Hungary since the 20th century.
Drought and frosty weather caused significant damage in many orchards as nature awakened early due to the mild February.
The summer was rainy and warm but, fortunately, there were no sudden and significant heatwaves in Hungary. In 2020, the highest temperature in the summer was measured on August 30: it was 37.4 °C in Mezőkovácsháza. Typically, precipitation came from intense thunderstorms in extreme spatial distribution. You can see theconsequences of a massive storm that hit Hungary in June; it even caused death.
The rainiest day of the summer was July 24 when a torrential rainfall hit the Vése meteorological station and broke the daily rainfall record with 178 millimetres. Throughout the southwestern parts of Hungary, more than 100 millimetres of rain was measured.
In Celldömölk, on August 17, more than 60% of the monthly amount fell in one day, breaking yet another daily record.
Autumn started with summer-like weather, but from the end of September, the weather turned cooler and more changeable. As a result of heavy rainfalls, floods formed in several watercourses, and by mid-October, it was already snowing in the Mátra in the North Hungarian Mountains.
OMSZ said that due to climate change, the continuous monitoring of the climate and weather conditions is particularly important, and it serves as the basis for a successful process of adaptation.
Many have been missing the white scenery at Christmas. It might be two weeks late, but snow finally arrived this Friday. The Transdanubian region, Zalaegerszeg, and the mountain ranges all experienced the first serious snowfall of the season this week.
So far this winter, snow could be expected only in the North Hungarian Mountains and maybe Alpokalja. Now, a considerable amount has fallen due to a sudden precipitation zone forming above Transdanubia.
Sudden snowfall
A Mediterranean cyclone has reached Hungary. Its precipitation zone extended above Transdanubia. Experts at the Hungarian Meteorological Service say that the sudden snow is not actually caused by the front on the South but by a confluence zone formed above the country, which is much smaller compared to the front. This has been marked as a convergence zone on the map. In Central Transdanubia, the winds blowing from the South-East, North-East, and from the North collide with one another, resulting in the rise of air and thus precipitation.
While people living in the Southern parts of Transdanubia can expect nothing but rain, people from Zala and Somogy counties should prepare for a serious amount of snow, up to 10-20 cm.
Photo: Facebook.com/idokep
Some, including people living in Veszprém County, have already reported snowfall of almost 20 cm, Időkép reports, but people from Zala County can expect the largest amounts.
Some are more excited about the white blessing from the skies than others. While people on the ski piste are having the time of their lives, drivers cannot count themselves so lucky.
Photo: Facebook.com/idokep
The ice and snow have already caused considerable disruption on the roads. In Transdanubia and Zala County, several roads have been blocked, and many cars got stuck due to the snow. All drivers should be cautioned and drive safe.
Precipitation of 2 and 5 mm can be expected on average next week. The temperature will be around -1 and -5 degrees Celsius at night, but it could go as low as -10 degrees Celsius in areas with a lot of snow.
We can enjoy a mild winter until the end of this year, but by the second week of January, the winter shows its real face bringing extreme minuses for the first month of 2021.
The mild temperatures of December can be experienced in the upcoming week as well. Besides minor rains and showers, the temperature may rise above 10°C; minuses can only be expected at dawn.
The first month of the year, January – which has the coldest days statistically – starts as if we were entering the fifth month of autumn – said László Molnár, meteorologist to the Hungarian news portal 24.hu.
All this is caused by a Mediterranean cyclone swirling over South-Western Europe, of which Hungary has been located in the southern heat-transporting part for days. But why has it become much warmer now, and how does a cold front cause warming? The answer is: inversion – a phenomenon when the near-surface air temperature is higher than that of the air layers above it.
On 31st December, another weak cold front arrives that does not result in significant cooling, but it can cause temporary snowfall in the mountains, in the northeastern landscapes and plains.
According to the longer-term forecast of Agronaptár, a significant change is expected at the end of next week, around 8th January. The already mentioned Mediterranean cyclone will then reposition itself in the Balkan region, and Hungary will move to the cold side. The winter cold will last for 7-10 days in the Carpathian Basin.
The meteorologist expects sub-average temperatures with minima below -10°C, with daily mean temperatures of -5 and -6 degrees.
In the second half of January, further change can be expected; the flow will turn to the northwest, temperatures are forecasted to be around average.
There is a species of fly called Rhagoletis completa which destroys walnut trees, and it appeared already in Hungary years ago. However, it seems now that it spread everywhere in the country because 93 pc of the farmers told an agriculture-focused Hungarian news website that it causes significant damage to their trees.
According to agroinform.hu, the fly damaged trees in the Western part of the country in the last few years, but it has spread everywhere in Hungary by now. The website received 4,700 answers on its relevant questionnaire. That means that they have a comprehensive enough panorama about the damage that Rhagoletis completa does. The spread of the fly was so quick that
67 pc of the farmers never even encountered this question before.
Among the less-endangered counties of Hungary, there are only two, Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg and Hajdú-Bihar, on the Eastern side of the country. However, 43 and 36 pc of the respondents knew about the problem even in these two regions.
Ten pc of the farmers do not know what to do while 41 pc try to collect the fruit before the flies can harm them. If they manage to separate the shell in time, they can save the walnut inside. 25 pc said that they could not do anything, so they decided to keep the trees to provide shade during the summer, and
they hope that they will be able to buy an efficient pesticide soon.
15 pc is thinking about spraying, and nine pc would rather cut down the trees.
Only eight pc of the respondents have more than ten trees, but only 35 pc of them would spray their trees to extinguish the vermins. That is because they would need machines to do so, and the perfect timing is also imperative. Others collect the walnut and destroy it, and some bought poultry to prevent the larvas from getting into the earth. 26 pc of those having ten or more trees said that they use bug zappers.
Bence Bolyki, CEO of Agroinform, said that nobody should worry that walnuts would disappear from Hungary because big farmers would be able to protect their trees. However, those having some trees in their garden will probably have to accept that they will no longer be able to eat their fruit.
The Rhagoletis completa is indigenous in the USA and Mexico,
but it popped up in Europe in the ’80s while it first appeared in Hungary in 2011.
For the first time, the Arctic sea ice is not yet freezing in late October – the unusual phenomenon could result in extreme weather conditions in the upcoming winter.
The delay of the annual freeze could bring an extremely cold winter, Portfolioreports. Based on data from the Hungarian Meteorological Service, while the extent of sea ice in the Arctic in September 2020 was recorded the second lowest, in October, it reached a record-low level. The freeze-up takes a completely different pace now; the recovering of the ice is much slower than ever before.
But how does this affect the weather?
The atmosphere of the large area, the transport of saltier water towards the Arctic Ocean, and the above-normal surface temperature of the ice-free water can produce positive feedback mechanisms, which can then cause a delay in freezing.
If the temperature on the arctic permanently remains 15-20 degrees Celsius above the average, it can have an effect on the jet stream; if the jet stream loses its strength, it can cause extreme weather conditions, like unusual cold and warm periods.
About the jet stream…
Studies show that the jet stream and the arctic freezing have a mutual effect on each other. The jet stream is a stream of air that flows around the globe. When such weather anomalies stop the Arctic sea ice from freezing, the power of the jet stream will weaken. Consequently, warmer air outbreak on the North and colder air outbreak on the South will bring the extremely cold winter to Europe or North America.
