Small chance of temps hitting 42°C next week

The Netherlands can expect hot weather again from next week. There is even a 2 percent chance that temperatures could climb to 42 degrees Celsius, according to Weerplaza. That is much higher than the hottest temperature ever measured in the Netherlands - 38.6 degrees Celsius, measured in Warnsveld.

While temperatures will very likely not actually climb to above 40 degrees, there is a 50 chance of temps between 30 and 35 degrees from July 23rd onwards and even an 80 percent chance of temps above 25 degrees, according to the weather service. That is still well above the usual maximum temperatures for late July, between 22 and 24 degrees.

Despite the unlikeliness of temperatures climbing to 42 degrees, the weather forecast stunned Weerplaza for two reasons - this is the first time ever a weather indication hit 42 degrees in the Netherlands, and trend of the indication is extraordinarily hot. "There seems to be no end to the heat and drought", the weather service wrote.

The chance of rain over the next two weeks remains "extremely small". Not a drop of rain will fall in many places. And the areas that do get rain, will get only very small amounts. "Drops on a hot plate", according to Weerplaza. "With the current forecast of precipitation, we are well on our way of having the biggest precipitation shortage since record year 1976."