After a few days of cooler weather, this week has seen things heat up again as temperatures soar to above 30 degrees in some parts of the Netherlands. In fact, it’s been so hot that meteorologists are reporting that Wednesday was the hottest August 24 the country has ever seen - and the warm weather isn’t going anywhere just yet.

Wednesday hottest August 24 ever seen in the Netherlands

According to meteorologists over at weer.nl, the mercury rose to 33,5 degrees in Arcen - a village in Limburg that sits along the German border. Breaking the record of 33,3 degrees set in 2016, this makes yesterday the hottest August 24 the Netherlands has ever seen. 

While these kinds of temperatures aren’t being seen across the whole country, the Netherlands is undoubtedly enjoying what is turning out to be one of the hottest Augusts it has ever experienced. Before this week’s mini heatwave, the average temperature for the month was 20,2 degrees, as measured by the Dutch Weather Institute (KNMI) in De Bilt. 

While this may not sound particularly hot, it does mean that, so far, August 2022 is the third-hottest August ever, behind 2020 (20,4 degrees), and 1997 (20,5 degrees). Other records that have already been broken this month include the regional heatwave currently plaguing the eastern region of Achterhoek, which has lasted a whopping 18 days.

Temperatures to rise to 35 degrees in some Dutch cities on Thursday

Wednesday was hot - but Thursday is set to be even hotter, with experts expecting it will also break records to become the hottest August 25 ever recorded. Inland, in cities like Utrecht and Amsterdam, temperatures are set to reach 31 degrees. Further south, in Maastricht and Eindhoven, it could reach as high as 34 or 35 degrees. 

While the day starts off sunny, cloud cover will increase throughout the course of the afternoon and evening, and as Thursday turns to Friday, the risk of thunderstorms rises. Thursday is likely to be the hottest day of the week, but the warm weather isn’t going anywhere just yet, with temperatures ranging from 21 degrees on the Wadden Islands to 26 degrees in the southern provinces through to the end of the week. 

There will be a few showers on Friday and Sunday, but on the whole next week is looking sunny, warm - with maximums of between 25 and 27 degrees expected on Tuesday - and dry.