Second regional heatwave declared as more records fall
The Netherlands officially had a regional heatwave on Thursday, with temperatures topping 30 degrees in parts of the south and east and record-breaking temperatures in De Bilt.
It was officially the hottest August 25 on record, with Thursday’s temperature hitting a high of 31.6 degrees in De Bilt, near Utrecht, breaking the 2019 high of 31.3. Areas in the east and the south of the country also met the criteria for a heatwave.
For warm weather to be considered a national heatwave, the temperature in De Bilt, home of the national weather service KNMI, must reach 25 degrees for five days in a row, with three of those days hitting 30 degrees.
De Bilt hit these highs on August 13, but the recent rise did not last long enough to qualify for a second national heatwave.
In the south and east of the country, however, the story was different. Deelen (Gelderland), Volkel (North Brabant) and Arcen (Limburg) have all been hot enough for long enough to earn the distinction of a regional heatwave.
The town of Hupsel in the Achterhoek didn’t qualify for a second heatwave because the first one is still ongoing. The mercury has reached 25 degrees for the previous 18 days, nine of which broke 30.
Across the country, temperatures are expected to cool off this weekend. A mix of clouds and showers are expected and forecasters say the temperatures will return to a normal range for this time of year.
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