Early spring throughout Europe
Over the past few weeks, signs that spring had arrived in midwinter have been evidence that climate change is upon us, with a number of strange phenomena showing the magnitude of the problem. – Birds in northern regions have not migrated south, as the Danube Delta and the Black Sea provided them with sufficient food and warmth. – Bears in the Balkans have not gone into hibernation and those in Siberia were late in doing so. – In Italy, trees that should have gone into dormancy were flowering. Almond trees blossomed prematurely, putting the crop at risk if temperatures fall. In the Netherlands, wildflowers carpeted the ground instead of snow. – Marine animals have not begun their migration from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean. – According to an old Bulgarian proverb, «bread slices are thick when the snow falls thick on the ground.» An early spring leads to concern for the wheat crop. – Many European health ministries are warning allergy sufferers to avoid exposure to pollen.
