400 hours of sunshine, almost no rain: Netherlands sets spring weather records
The Netherlands is experiencing its warmest, sunniest, and driest start to spring since records began, according to new data from weather agency weeronline. Since March 1, the country has recorded an unprecedented 400 hours of sunshine, far above the seasonal average of 243 hours. Rainfall has been minimal, with just 11 millimeters falling in that time — a drastic drop from the usual 78 millimeters for early spring.
The average temperature so far this season has been 8.5 degrees, more than a full degree above the norm of 7.2 degrees. While 2024 still holds the record for the warmest spring start at 10.3 degrees, this year is not far behind — and well above historical averages.
Sunshine levels have shattered records from the beginning of March. The first ten days of the month brought 92 hours of sun, breaking the previous record of 89 hours set in 2022. The following ten days added another 79 hours, ranking third in brightness. Even as the end of March brought more cloud cover, total sunshine still reached historic levels.
April quickly picked up where March left off, with the first ten days averaging 109 hours of sunshine across key weather stations. That figure easily broke the old April record of 100 hours set in 2002.
By mid-April, total sunshine for the season had climbed to 400 hours, smashing the previous record of 336 hours from 2020. Almost all of the sunniest spring starts on record — nine out of the top ten — have occurred since the year 2000.
Rainfall has been just as extreme, in the opposite direction. Only 11 millimeters have fallen since the start of March, the lowest on record for this period. That breaks the old record of 22 millimeters set in 1996, with 2011 close behind at 23. March produced a mere 5 millimeters of rain nationwide, and the first twelve days of April were completely dry. Only in recent days has April added another 6 millimeters.
Rainfall was not evenly distributed across the country. On March 23, Leeuwarden saw 33 millimeters in one day, finishing the month with 45 millimeters — the highest total anywhere in the Netherlands. Nearby regions in Friesland, as well as parts of Gelderland, Overijssel, and the Wadden Islands, saw slightly more rainfall, generally ranging from 10 to 20 millimeters. Most of the country, however, remained far drier, with totals between zero and 10 millimeters. In April, most areas have seen just 2 to 7 millimeters of rain. Oss registered the highest April total at 13 millimeters, followed by Lisse with 8.
Temperature data shows the spring has been not only bright and dry but consistently mild. March had an average temperature of 7.1 degrees, warmer than the usual 6.5. Through mid-April, the average stands at 10.9 degrees, nearly two full degrees above the normal 8.8.
Clear skies during the day brought steady warmth, though cold, frost-prone nights remained common. De Bilt registered frost on 13 nights, two more than usual. The northern and eastern regions saw even colder nights, with Eelde recording freezing temperatures on 26 nights and several other locations reporting over 20 frost nights.
Early March also brought a wave of daily temperature records. On March 6, De Bilt tied its 1989 record at 17.8 degrees. The next day, the temperature rose to 18.1 degrees, setting a new daily record and peaking at 19.2 degrees in Arcen. On March 8, Deelen recorded the country’s first local warm day of the year, reaching 20 degrees. De Bilt also broke a record that day at 19.6 degrees.
The year’s first official warm day — defined by a temperature above 20 degrees in De Bilt — came unusually early on March 21, when the mercury hit 21.9 degrees. That milestone usually doesn’t arrive until April 12. By mid-April, De Bilt had already recorded four warm days, twice the seasonal average. The highest temperature so far came on April 12, when De Bilt reached 22.8 degrees. Other stations across the country approached summer-like temperatures, with Westdorpe topping 25 degrees and both Woensdrecht and Eindhoven climbing above 24.
Meanwhile, a new report from the Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organization adds context to the Dutch figures. Europe as a whole experienced its hottest year on record in 2024 and continues to warm faster than any other continent. Temperature extremes between Eastern and Western Europe were stark, with the east facing record-setting warmth and dryness, while the west, including the Netherlands, dealt with warmth paired with heavy rainfall.
The summer of 2024 included six separate heatwaves in Europe, the most ever recorded in a single year. The most intense one lasted 13 days and affected 55 percent of Southeast Europe with temperatures 9.2 degrees above normal. That event was rivaled only by the 2007 heatwave, which lasted ten days with a 9.7-degree spike over a broader area.
Floods also became more deadly and destructive. In 2024, at least 335 people died in European flooding, and more than 413,000 were affected. Nearly one-third of European rivers reached "high" flood levels, and 12 percent reached "extreme" levels. In September, Storm Boris triggered widespread flooding across Germany, Poland, Austria, Hungary, and several other countries. Another storm in late October brought extensive damage to Spain’s Valencia region.
Glaciers across the continent are shrinking faster than ever. In 2024, Scandinavian glaciers lost an average of 1.8 meters in thickness — the steepest decline ever recorded. Norwegian Spitsbergen glaciers lost even more, with a 2.7-meter drop. The Arctic recorded its warmest year to date for land areas, which also saw their fourth-warmest annual average overall. Spitsbergen alone set a new summer heat record for the third year in a row. Scientists now consider the area one of the fastest-warming places on the planet.
