Netherlands records second official heat wave of 2026 on Saturday as Ell hits 30.1°C
The Netherlands recorded its second regional heat wave of 2026 on Saturday after temperatures in Ell reached 30.1 degrees Celsius, Weeronline reports.
A regional heat wave is defined as at least five consecutive days above 25 degrees, including at least three days above 30 degrees. An official national heat wave requires those same conditions to be met at the main weather station in De Bilt. Because the threshold was reached in Limburg rather than at De Bilt, the event is classified as a regional heat wave.
The current heat wave began Tuesday. Temperatures in Ell, Horst, and Maastricht remained above 25 degrees for five straight days. Readings exceeded 32 degrees on Thursday and topped 35 degrees on Friday, when Ell recorded the national high at 35.1 degrees. Meteorologist Jordi Huirne of Buienradar described Friday as “an exceptionally extremely warm day” in a conversation with RTL.
Saturday's 30.1-degree reading did not threaten the Dutch temperature record of 34.7 degrees, set in 2005 in Gilze-Rijen. Forecasters said the chance of breaking that record was small.
The heat wave is the second of the year, following another regional heat wave in May that was already considered exceptionally early. Heat waves in May are uncommon. The earliest heat wave on record occurred from May 6 through May 10, 1976, in Volkel, Gemert, Soesterberg, and Deelen.
Meteorologists said two regional heat waves have never previously occurred this early in the year. Only in 1947 and 1976 did the Netherlands also record heat waves in both May and June, but in those years, the second heat wave started later, on June 24 and June 22, respectively.
Multiple heat waves in a summer are not unusual in some parts of the country. In Noord-Limburg, two heat waves in one season are more common than none, and some years have seen three, four, or even five. The Netherlands recorded three regional heat waves in 2006, 2016, and 2019. Volkel and Arcen experienced four in 1995, while Maastricht recorded five in 1947, the national record. Winterswijk recorded four that year.
The longest regional heat wave on record lasted 29 days in 2018, recorded at the Twenthe and Hupsel weather stations. The previous record was 22 days at Arcen, Volkel, and Gilze-Rijen in July 1994. Winterswijk experienced heat waves lasting 21 and 20 days in 1947.
Coastal areas have seen far fewer heat waves. Since measurements began, Vlissingen has recorded nine and Den Helder four, compared with 39 in De Bilt and 62 in Maastricht.
