French vintners are lighting candles to thaw their grapevines to save them from a late frost following a mild winterCHABLIS, France — French vintners are lighting candles to thaw their grapevines to save them from a late frost following a winter warm spell, a temperature swing that is threatening fruit crops in multiple countries. The frost is particularly frustrating after a similar phenomenon hit French vineyards last year, leading to some 2 billion euros ($2.4 billion) in losses. Some vintners tried to warm the vines with electrical lines, or sprayed the buds with water to protect them from frost. In the central Dutch town of Winterswijk, skaters took to the ice Sunday at the local ice skating club. “This is unique: Skating on natural ice in April,” the club’s “ice master,” Hendrik ten Prooije, told local network Omroep Gelderland.

Source: ABC News April 05, 2022 08:25 UTC