Netherlands experiences unusually warm autumn start

The Netherlands has experienced an unusually warm start to the autumn season. Data indicates that the first half of the meteorological autumn, beginning September 1, was the third warmest on record since 1901. The average temperature reached 15.6 degrees Celsius, significantly higher than the normal 14.0 degrees.

During this period, sunshine hours were notably higher, with 262 hours of sun recorded compared to the usual amount. Additionally, temperatures exceeded 20 degrees Celsius on 26 days, nearly double the typical 15 days. Rainfall was slightly lower than average, totaling 108 millimeters against the usual 123 millimeters.

Following this warm spell, a temperature shift is expected. Recent data from De Bilt shows the average temperature for the first ten days of October was 13.7 degrees, well above the long-term monthly average of 10.9 degrees. However, meteorological forecasts suggest a cooling trend starting around October 18, as high-pressure systems move north, potentially bringing temperatures closer to or slightly below long-term averages.