Heat wave official, but storms forecast

9 August 2004

AMSTERDAM — The Netherlands was officially in the midst of a heat wave at 12.54pm on Monday as the temperature hit 30 degrees Celsius, weather bureau KNMI said.

It is the 35th heat wave since KNMI started measuring heat waves in 1901, but the hot days will not last for much longer. The weather bureau has forecast storms for the coming days.

Despite this, the temperature is expected to remain warm, hovering between 25 and 29 degrees, newspaper De Telegraaf reported.

A heat wave is declared when the De Bilt-based KNMI measures at least five days in a row of at least 25 degrees, three of which must be 30 degrees or more.

The temperature rose on a daily basis last week above 25 degrees in De Bilt and it hit 30 degrees both on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Last year was the sunniest year ever in the Netherlands and it was also the driest summer on record. A record 115 days of temperatures above 20 degrees were also recorded last year.

But the summer of 1947 retained its place as the hottest Dutch summer ever, totalling four noteworthy heat waves extending to 38 days.

The longest Dutch heat wave in recorded history took place in 1975 when 18 summer days in a row were measured, six of which were tropical (30 degrees of more).

Subject: Dutch news