Oliver Koit, a scientist at Tallinn University, says that the first snow usually arrives in November. But this winter was special. The snow did not stay on the ground permanently. This means that there may not be a major flood in the spring.
Koit said that sometimes the snow melts already in December. If the snow comes only in January or February, then there are fewer floods in the spring. Over the past ten years, there have not been many snowy winters and major spring floods.
Rural life expert Ilmar Tamm says that mild winters can be good for winter crops. If the ground is not frozen, the water is absorbed into the soil. This helps plants grow. But it can be bad for summer crops. In the spring, there may be a lack of moisture, which causes drought.
Nature has cycles. Some years are wet, some are dry. Scientist Arvo Järvet says this is normal. For example, in 2008, a wetter period began, which continues to this day. The abundance of the year depends on the spring flood.