First ground frost in the Netherlands arrives a month early
By Simone Jacobs
The Netherlands has already experienced its first ground frost since midsummer began. Ground temperatures below 0 degrees celsius were measured in multiple locations on August 24, occurring a month earlier than usual.
The Netherlands records first ground frost of the season
On August 24, ground temperatures dropped to -0,3 degrees celsius in Eindhoven and -0,2 degrees in Volkel. Ell, a city in Limburg, experienced air temperatures of 3,8 degrees celsius - the coldest temperature recorded on any August 24 in the Netherlands.
Usually, the first ground frost after summer occurs around September 28. Last year, ground temperatures dropped below zero on September 13. According to Weeronline, this year’s first frost arrived a month earlier than average.
Cool and calm weather brings first frost
The earliest date on which ground frost occurred in the Netherlands was on August 22 in 1973, when temperatures dropped to -2,2 degrees celsius in Twente. In more recent years, ground frost has been recorded later in September.
The ground frost on August 24 was due to a combination of factors. "The atmosphere was calm, there was a high-pressure system, and it was cold at altitude,” Weerplaza meteorologist Donny de Koning told NOS. “That's also a coincidence, but it is exceptional for this time of year."
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Editor for the Netherlands at IamExpat Media. Simone studied Genetics and Zoology at the University of Pretoria in South Africa before moving to the Netherlands, where she has been working as a writer and editor since 2022. One thing she loves more than creating content is consuming it, mainly by reading books by the dozen. Other than being a book dragon, she is also a nature lover and enjoys hiking and animal training. Read more