First moderate frost of the season hits the Netherlands
The Netherlands has officially experienced its first moderate frost of the season, later than usual. The temperature in De Bilt reached -5.2 degrees in the early hours of Sunday morning, according to weather agency Weeronline. Typically, the first moderate frost of the winter occurs around December 22 at the KNMI weather station. Last year, the first moderate frost was recorded on January 18, with temperatures dropping to -6.6 degrees.
Other parts of the country saw even colder temperatures. In Woensdrecht, the lowest minimum temperature was recorded at -6.4 degrees. The first local moderate frost this season was reported on January 11, when temperatures in Eelde dropped to -6.0 degrees.
Unlike recent years, both the first official moderate frost and the first local frost were delayed this year. In the previous winter season, moderate frost did not occur until January 9. In 2022-2023 and 2021-2022, the first frost was recorded on November 19 and December 21, respectively.
In 2020-2021, De Bilt saw its first moderate frost on January 21, ending a 740-day frost-free period. The last time the country saw such a long delay was in 2019, when moderate frost was recorded on January 21.
The number of frost days this season has so far remained below the average of ten per winter half-year. The highest number of frost days in this century was recorded in 2003 and 2010, with 21 days each.
In the harsh winter of 1962-1963, the Netherlands experienced a record 59 frost days, while 53 days were recorded in 1947 and 49 days in 1940.
