Cold gardeners in Poland and Europe – sudden weather whims

Mid-May traditionally brings a cooling of the weather. This year, meteorologists also predict that the cold gardeners will bring lower temperatures, and locally even frosts. Meanwhile, in Europe, surprising contrasts are being observed – in Ireland, it will be above 20°C, while Spain experienced an icy catastrophe over the weekend.

Weather breakdown in Spain

On Saturday, heavy clouds hung over Valencia once again. Less than six months after floods that claimed the lives of over 230 people, the region was hit by heavy hail and rain mixed with snow. In the mountains, up to 50 liters per square meter of water fell within half an hour, turning the streets of many towns into rushing torrents once again.

According to data from the Spanish meteorological service AEMET, the heaviest rainfall was recorded in Roseel (61.2 l/m²), l’Alcora (47.4 l/m²), l’Orxa (46.4 l/m²), and Castellnovo (40 l/m²). In the municipality of Olleria, nearly 38 liters of rain fell in just 20 minutes. There was also intense hail, comparable in size to 2-euro coins, which destroyed many fields and significantly hindered local transport – the fire brigade even had to clear a blocked tunnel in Xàtiva. In the town of Villar del Arzobispo, icy streams flooded the entire center, and frozen piles accumulated in parking lots.

Today, heavy rainfall and a hailstorm swept through Villar del Arzobispo in Valencia Province, Spain pic.twitter.com/XtN0dtr9Oi

— Weather Monitor (@WeatherMonitors) May 8, 2025

Hot and dry Ireland

Not everywhere do the cold gardeners make themselves felt. Ireland is enjoying exceptionally warm and sunny weather, rarely seen during this usually cool period. The Irish meteorological agency Met Eireann released an 11-day weather forecast today, indicating that temperatures across much of the island, except for the eastern coast, will reach up to 20–23°C during the day.

The sky will be cloudless, with only occasional spring drizzles expected, which will not bring more than 1 mm of water per square meter at a time. This is great news for tourists and weather-hungry Irish people, but meteorologists warn of worsening drought, which has been affecting the British Isles for several weeks. Last week, a six-week garden watering ban was introduced in many Irish counties due to dangerously low water levels. Similar restrictions are currently being considered in England.

Cold gardeners in Poland

Along the Vistula River, the weather does not differ from typical May standards. According to IMGW-PIB data, this morning it was -2.4°C in Lębork, and frosts were also recorded near Słupsk, Bydgoszcz, in Warmia and Mazury, and the Sudetes. After a moderately warm day with maximum temperatures of 13–16°C, we can expect ground frosts of up to -2°C at night and even -4°C in mountainous areas.

On May 13th, on Servatius’ name day, temperatures in the south and west of the country may reach up to 18°C, but at night they will drop again to 13°C with ground frosts. The cold gardeners end on Wednesday with Boniface’s name day, bringing maximum daytime temperatures ranging from 9°C in the north to 13°C in the center and even 18°C in the west, but with strong, gusty winds.

However, the biggest cooling will come on Thursday, which is known as “Cold Sophia.” According to the portal twojapogoda.pl, the arrival of freezing Arctic air may cause ground frosts of up to -8°C in northern and northeastern voivodeships. It is therefore worth considering covering blooming fruit shrubs!

main photo credit: Jack Blueberry/Unsplash