Another soaking wet month in the Netherlands; Average temps for July

July was another soaking wet month in the Netherlands. The country got 109 mm of rain, compared to the 79 millimeters typical for the seventh month of the year, Weeronline reported. The rest of the weather was more typical, with temperatures and sunshine hours around average for the time of year.

The average temperature in July was 18.1 degrees, compared to the typical 18.3 degrees, which is the climate average for 1994-2023. The global warming effect is clearly visible when looking at previous climate periods. The average temperature for July between 1971 and 2000 was 17.4 degrees, and 16.8 degrees in the period 1961 to 1990. This involves temperature measurements taken a the national weather station in De Bilt, considered the average for the Netherlands.

Temperatures went in all directions this month. July started on the cool side, with maximums below 20 degrees on the first five days. Then, the mercury rose to a summery 28.2 degrees in De Bilt on July 9, which ended in thunderstorms that brought cooler weather back into the country. July 12th’s maximum was only 15.4 degrees in De Bilt.

The only tropical day this month was recorded on July 20, when maximums hit 30.0 degrees in De Bilt. Typically, July gets two tropical days, with maximums climbing to 30.0 degrees or higher. The month had seven summer days, with maximums above 25 degrees, compared to the typical nine. “Since 2019, July has had fewer than the usual nine summer days,” Weeronline said. “Last year, we recorded six. In 2020, it came to three summer days in De Bilt.” The month had 23 warm days, with maximums over 20 degrees - the typical amount.

July followed this year’s trend of being wetter than usual. Only March and June got slightly less rain than typical for the time of year. “The other months were clearly too wet.” July got 109 mm of rain across the country, compared to the typical 79 mm. Enschede was the wettest place in the Netherlands this month, with no less than 207 mm. A large part of this (68 mm) fell on Sunday, July 21, leading to flooding in the region, including on the A1 highway. Terneuzen was the driest place this month, getting 55 mm of rain.

“It has been soaking wet since October 2023,” Weeronline said. Between 1 October 2023 and 30 July 2024, a record 1,103 mm of rain fell across the country on average. The typical rainfall for that period is 694 mm. “No other year comes close to this.” The previous record dates from 2006/07, with 902 mm of rain.

Despite the wet weather, July still had slightly more than the typical number of sunshine hours. The sun shone an average of 227 hours across the country, compared to the typical 223 hours.