While North America may be coping with snow storms and very low temperatures, it could reach as high as 14 Celsius in the Netherlands on Monday, according to weather website weeronline.nl.

Over the next few days it will be almost spring-like, although it will be cooler towards the end of the week, weeronline.nl says. And the long-range forecasts don’t give any hint that wintry weather is on its way.

The relatively warm weather is due to strong southwesterly winds from southwestern Europe and will be coupled with showers all week, weather forecasters say.

The warmest January 6 on record dates from 1999, when the temperature reached 13.1 Celsius at the De Bilt weather station near Hilversum. Friday was the warmest January 3 on record.

The warm weather is also causing problems for hay fever sufferers as some flowering trees and shrubs are blooming earlier than normal, news agency ANP said.