Record warmth on Sunday followed by spring-like weather Monday in the Netherlands
The Netherlands entered the new week with two highly unusual December weather events: a national warm-weather record on December 7 and temperatures rising again on Monday morning to levels more typical of spring than early winter.
On Sunday, Weeronline reported that De Bilt reached 14 degrees, making it the warmest December 7 ever recorded since measurements began. The previous record, set in 2007, was 13.8 degrees.
That same warm air remained in place Monday morning. Meteorologists described the start of the day as “spring-like,” noting that the morning “looked more like a spring day than a typical winter day.” Conditions are dry everywhere, with frequent sunshine and temperatures already in the double digits.
In the south, early-morning readings reached about 13 degrees. Clouds will gradually thicken from the south as the morning progresses.
Forecasters say the warmth will continue to dominate this week. Monday afternoon is expected to reach 12 degrees in the north and up to 15 degrees in the south, driven by a moderate to sometimes fairly strong southwest wind near the coast. A few showers are forecast to move inland from the North Sea, mainly affecting the south, while much of the north would remain dry.
By Monday evening, a rain system is expected to make the south “quite wet” before spreading north into the central Netherlands later in the night.
Conditions are forecast to reverse by early Tuesday, with the south turning drier while the north will see more rain. Nighttime temperatures are not expected to fall below 11 degrees in most areas, continuing the run of unusually mild nights. In Zeeland, wind gusts could reach about 70 kilometers per hour as winds increase to force 7 from the southwest.
Tuesday is expected to remain gray, with most rain concentrated along coastal areas and in the far north, where a large precipitation zone will move northeast over the North Sea. Elsewhere, conditions should stay mostly dry.
Forecasters predict maximum temperatures between 11 and 15 degrees—likely setting a new record for the warmest December 9 ever observed.
Weather services say Wednesday should offer “ideal weather to do something outdoors.” It is expected to remain dry, with clouds clearing from the west, giving widespread sunshine and temperatures between 12 and 14 degrees. A moderate to sometimes fairly strong southwest wind will continue.
Thursday and Friday should stay dry, as well. Although slightly cooler than earlier in the week, conditions will still be far milder than the usual 5 to 8 degrees for mid-December. According to forecasts, the following days will also remain mostly dry, with daytime temperatures in the low double digits and no meaningful sign of winter approaching.
