The night from Thursday, June 25, to Friday, June 26, is expected to be the warmest ever measured in the Netherlands, as a code orange weather warning grips the nation.
If accurate, the forecasted nighttime temperatures of 24 degrees Celsius would beat the current national record of 22.4 degrees Celsius, set on July 27, 2018. Worse? Temperatures could get even hotter locally.
The KNMI expects Beek in South Limburg to stay above 25 degrees overnight, topping the local record of 24.4 degrees, also set on that same date in 2018.
Here’s what the code orange covers
From midday today (June 24) until at least Friday, a code orange weather warning for extreme heat applies to the centre and south, with daytime highs of 33 to 36 degrees.
If you haven’t seen a code orange for heat before, there’s a good reason why. Since the criteria were tightened in 2021, they apply when one of three things happens:
- three consecutive days at 34 degrees or higher,
- two consecutive days at 36 degrees or higher,
- or a single day at 38 degrees or higher.
The far north has it easier, with Groningen, Friesland, and Drenthe under code geel (yellow) weather warning and afternoon highs of 28 to 33 degrees.
@dutchreview Double fisting ijsjes at the moment — how are you doing? 🍦 #hot #netherlands #hotweather #meme
♬ original sound – DutchReview
Poor air quality in the centre and south
The RIVM also warns that air quality will be poor in the centre and south of the country today and on Thursday due to ozone smog. You can expect the worst in the late afternoon and early evening.
Children, older adults, and people with existing respiratory conditions will need to be extra careful, as they’re most sensitive to the smog.
Expect fewer trains (so plan your commute wisely!)
From Wednesday, the NS is running fewer trains on some routes. Overheated components, especially on double-decker trains that can’t cool down overnight, raise the risk of breakdowns.
The rail operator is asking passengers to carry water and points to the free refill taps now at more than 250 stations. Pack a bottle before you head out, and expect longer commutes if you’re travelling by rail over the next few days.
How are you surviving the absolute inferno currently raging in the Netherlands? Share your tips for staying cool in the comments below.
