From Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst.) trees all over Estonia, increment cores were collected to study the relationship between tree-ring width and climate; particular emphasis was given to pointer years. Between 1871 and 2009, 34 negative and 31 positive pointer years were identified. As a limiting factor for the growth of spruce, June precipitation/temperature turned out to be most obvious, especially in pointer years. This dependence lost previous importance during the last decades while the amount of rainfall slightly increased.

Keywords: Norway spruce, dendroclimatology, pointer years, Estonia, early summer rainfall/temperature