Lyrid meteor shower viewers get very chilly overnight; Up to 20°C in Limburg today

People willing to brave the near-freezing minimums overnight were treated to 18 shooting stars per hour last night. Clear skies and little moon made for perfect viewing of the Lyrid meteor shower. Today will be a sunny day with temperatures approaching 20 in the south of the country.

The Lyrid meteor shower is visible every year around this time in the Netherlands, though only if the weather allows. People in the south of the country had the best chance of spotting the shooting stars. The meteor shower was also visible in our neighboring country, with many Germans posting photos on social media.

Thursday afternoon will be sunny and dry, according to the meteorological institute KNMI. Maximums will range between 11 degrees Celsius on the Wadden Islands and 19 degrees in the south. Limburg may even hit 20 on the thermometer. The northerly wind will be moderate, sometimes strong in the Wadden area.

This evening, some cloud cover will appear in the north, and Friday will start with cloudy skies in most places. The sun will shine more and more as the day continues, and no rain is expected. Maximums will again range between 11 and 19 degrees, north to south.

The weekend is expected to be sunny and dry. Temperatures are slightly below the long-term average, but minimums won’t drop to freezing. Maximums around 16 degrees Celsius are typical for this time of year.

If you missed out on the Lyrid meteor shower last night, you’ll have another chance to see shooting stars in August, Buienradar meteorologist Jordi Huirne told RTL Nieuws. “There is another one in August, then you can see as many as 80 shooting stars per hour. Truly spectacular.” But only if the weather plays along. “If it’s cloudy, you won’t see anything.”