Heat Plan activated as hot weekend approaches

With a hot weekend ahead of the Netherlands, public health institute RIVM decided to activate the National Heat Plan for the entire country from Saturday. Maximums in the high twenties and low thirties are expected for the weekend and early next week.

The National Heat Plan is meant to inform Dutch about the risks of persistent heat and call on them to keep an eye on each other. "Especially for groups of vulnerable people, such as the elderly, babies, the chronically ill, overweight people, people in care homes and people in social isolation, the heat entails health risks. These people must be alert to dehydration and overheating. Babies and very young children also need extra attention to stay cool and hydrated", the RIVM said, NU.nl reports. 

With temps above 25 degrees and up to 32 degrees expected for the weekend and early next week, the third regional heat wave of the year is almost a certainty, according to Weerplaza. For a regional heatwave, an area of the Netherlands must see maximums of 25 degrees or higher for five days in a row, including three days with temps above 30 degrees. For a national heatwave, this must happen at the weather station in De Bilt. According to Weerplaza, the chance of the second national heatwave of the year is currently around 40 percent.