The drought in the Netherlands is expected to continue in the coming weeks, with the national rainfall deficit forecast to increase from 282 millimetres to more than 300 millimetres, according to Weeronline.
No prolonged periods of rain are expected for the rest of August. The coming days will be sunny and dry, while tropical temperatures are forecast to return later this week. Conditions are expected to become slightly wetter afterwards, but not enough to significantly reduce the water shortage.
Weeronline described August as “exceptionally dry”. During the first ten days of the month, only 0.3 millimetres of rain fell. The average for the same period is around 26.9 millimetres.
The south-west of the Netherlands is being hit particularly hard by the drought. The risk of wildfires remains high across the region.
There have been 133 reports of wildfires so far in August. In comparison, 194 wildfires were recorded during the whole of July.
Neighbouring Belgium and Germany are also introducing measures to address water scarcity. In several areas of Flanders, farmers are banned from taking water from ditches and rivers. In a number of German states, Sunday driving restrictions for lorries have been lifted because reduced river traffic has limited the transport of goods by water.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
