June 4, 2026, 2:22 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Farmers’ sayings have been part of rural traditions for centuries and are still known to many people today. Originally, they were used to predict weather patterns and their impact on agriculture. In a time without modern weather forecasts, farmers relied on their observations of nature and passed on their experiences in short, memorable rhymes. Many of these traditional sayings have survived to this day and are deeply embedded in cultural memory. A well-known farmers’ saying goes: “When the sheep’s cold rushes in, June will be cold in the land.” But what is behind this weather phenomenon–and how reliable is the saying really?
The Farmers’ Saying for June–What the Sheep’s Cold Means
The sheep’s cold usually occurs between June 4 and 20. During this period, cold air often flows from the area of Iceland and Greenland into Central Europe, causing a noticeable drop in temperature. This weather shift is often accompanied by changeable and rainy weather. Due to the frequent rainfall, sailors in the past even referred to this phase as the “European summer monsoon.”
During the sheep’s cold, daytime highs in many places remain below the 68-degree mark. At night, temperatures can drop to single digits, and in unfavorable locations, ground frost is even possible.
However, the sheep’s cold does not occur every year. “On average, the probability of occurrence is about 70 percent,” explains meteorologist Jörg Riemann from the Wettermanufaktur upon request from myHOMEBOOK.
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Will the Sheep’s Cold Come in 2026?
Currently, the weather is quite changeable, the expert explains. But it won’t stay that way. From the middle of next week, a tendency toward high-pressure influence is expected. “The temperature level will rise above the average.” Rain is also occasionally possible.
This means that there will be no sheep’s cold this year, Riemann explains. “As of now, we don’t have a day until the end of June when the temperature level is below average,” the expert reveals.
What the Sheep’s Cold Means for the Garden
Since the sheep’s cold will not occur this year, you can continue gardening as usual and simply enjoy the nice days and put your feet up. Even a classic sheep’s cold would not be a cause for concern: The short cold phase can no longer harm the plants.
According to Riemann, the greater danger often comes from increased rainfall amounts. If the wet weather persists for an extended period, strawberries, for example, can rot more easily. Additionally, bees are less active in cool and rainy weather, which can affect pollination.