The Netherlands has experienced its hottest 26 May since records began in 1901, Weeronline reports. The national weather station in De Bilt measured a temperature of 30.4°C at 14:10. This temperature marks the first official tropical day of the year.
The previous record for this date was 29.1°C, set in 2005. Tropical days, where temperatures hit 30°C or higher, have arrived unusually early. On average, the country does not see its first tropical day until 29 June. Across the country, afternoon temperatures ranged between 30°C and 32°C, and reached 33°C in some local areas.
Rising temperature trends and regional heatwaves
Tuesday’s milestone marks the fifth daily temperature record broken this year. The country previously broke four records during a warm spell in the first week of March, specifically on 2, 3, 4, and 5 March. Weeronline noted that daily heat records occur much more frequently now. In the current century, the Netherlands logs heat records nine times more often than cold records on average.
The hot weather also triggered the first regional heatwave of the year. The measuring station in Ell, Limburg, recorded 30.7°C at 13:20. An official heatwave requires temperatures of 25°C or higher for five consecutive days. Furthermore, temperatures must reach or exceed 30°C on three of those days. Cooler air will move across the country on Tuesday evening, ending the exceptional heat.
@ anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
