The Netherlands is set to experience a dramatic weather shift next week, with temperatures potentially reaching 18 to 20 degrees on Wednesday 26 February. After a period of wintry conditions, forecasters are predicting what could feel like an early taste of spring.
Weekend transition
The weekend will mark the beginning of the warm-up. Saturday and Sunday are expected to be changeable with regular rain, but temperatures will climb to between 8 and 13 degrees, already above normal for late February. Milder air flowing in from the southwest will gradually push out the colder conditions that have dominated recent weeks.
After the weekend, a few drier days with sunny periods are forecast before Wednesday brings the warmest conditions. Meteorologist Dennis Wilt told Hart van Nederland that Wednesday could see temperatures locally reach 18 to 20 degrees, with plenty of sunshine making it feel genuinely spring-like.
Photo Credits: Ethan Hu/Unsplash
Near-record territory
Such temperatures would approach February records for the Netherlands. The highest February temperature ever recorded in De Bilt was 18.9 degrees on 26 February 2019. The all-time February record across all Dutch weather stations stands at 20.5 degrees, measured in Arcen, Limburg on 27 February 2019. In 2021, De Bilt reached 18.7 degrees on 24 February, with Arcen hitting 19.8 degrees the same day.
Normal average temperatures for late February are around 7-8 degrees, making any readings above 15 degrees exceptional.
Short-lived warmth
The spring preview is expected to be brief. Forecasters predict that after Wednesday, conditions will turn more changeable again with temperatures dropping back to more typical levels. The pattern of alternating mild and cooler periods that has characterised this winter looks set to continue into early March.
For those currently enjoying the voorjaarsvakantie (spring school holiday) in the Netherlands, the message is to make the most of Wednesday's conditions. The combination of sunshine and warmth offers ideal weather for outdoor activities before the return of more unsettled conditions.
The warm spell follows a winter that has seen significant temperature contrasts across the country, with the north often experiencing much colder conditions than the south. In late January, differences of over 10 degrees were recorded between the northern and southern provinces on the same day.
