In years past I have posted this as a three day or more period in mid May that there was a chance of a frost or two but this year it has been cool for many of the first two weeks of this May. But anyway here is some information on the Three Chilly Saints and the lore of the mid May cool spell.
In parts of the Northern Hemi sphere, the period from May 12 to May 15 is often believed to bring a brief spell of colder weather in many years, including the last nightly frosts of the spring. Pupils of Galileo confirmed this weather pattern for the years 1655-70 and reported a marked cold snap over the days of the Ice Saints.
The Three Chilly Saints is one of the pieces of weather lore. Germans knew these days as “Icemanner,” or the Iceman Days, and farmers knew better than to plant vulnerable seedlings before the Icemen had come and gone. The English and French saw the Three Chilly Saints as harbingers of a late spring frost.
The Three Chilly Saints have also been called the Ice Saints or Frost Saints and their three days are sometimes called “the blackthorn winter.”
This year Grand Rapids had official lows in the 30’s on 8 days in a row and in some parts of the metro area there were lows in the upper 20’s and there was frost on 11th 12th and 13th Last year it was even colder yet with 8 days of cold low with lows of 34, 29 and 31 on the 11th 12th and 13th in 2019 the coldest low for the month of May was 38 on the 11th
Here at Grand Rapids the record lows for May 12th is 28 in 1981, 28 in 1946 and it was 29 last year. For May 13th the record low is 27 in 1946. For May 14th the record low is 31 in 1973. The latest date of record for a low of 28 or 29 is May 18th for a low of 30 and 31 it is May 27th and for a low of 32 it is June 4th So once we get past this week end it should be mor the most part safe to plant most plants but just remember there could still be a frost as it has gotten down to 35 as late as June 11th in 1980 and it has gotten down to 32 as early as September 3rd in 1946, 31 as early as September 14th 28 As early as September 23rd 1974. 28 as early as September 28 1991. That just shows you how short the summer season can be at Grand Rapids and remember in many parts of Michigan the summer season can be much shorter than here in Grand Rapids.
Slim
I just hung our hammock. It is now officially Spring. You’re welcome. 😁
Thanks Slim! Yeah cool nights in May certainly aren’t anything new in our area as some would have you believe. As your numbers show, you only have to go back to last year to see that yes we do get cool nights yet this time of the year. Perfect weather if you ask me, other than it is getting really dry.
The sun is now out and the temperature is now up to 72 here. I just planted my tomato plants for this year and now will plant some of the flower plants that I have before I get any more. The good news is I do NOT have to cut the grass yet and in fact I think I will get the sprinkles out and start the watering season. There are now indications that it could become very warm later next week.
Slim
On the bright side, no bugs yet, for the most part.
Maybe the Saints decided to come early this year? Nice post, Slim.