August to start hot and sunny; drought expected to worsen

After a dry, sunny, and fairly warm July, the first half of August is set to start with tropical temperatures and abundant sunshine across the Netherlands.

In the south of the country, the fourth heatwave of the year has been recorded, Weeronline reports. On Saturday and Sunday, high temperatures are expected between 24 and 30 degrees Celsius under a mix of sun and cumulus clouds.

Temperatures are to rise further on Monday, bringing tropical warmth to more locations. The southeast is forecast to be the hottest, with local highs of 33 degrees. The chance of showers increases later in the day.

Long-term averages show typical early August highs of 22 to 25 degrees. From Tuesday, the wind is set to shift to western directions, bringing less warm air. However, even after that drop, the following days are expected to run slightly above that average.

Occasional showers will move through while the sun appears regularly. Significant rainfall amounts are not anticipated, allowing the drought to intensify. Drought is defined as conditions in which more water evaporates from the soil than is replenished by rain.

The precipitation deficit has reached 250 millimeters and is approaching the record set in 1976. That year, like this one, left many parts of Europe extremely dry. River water levels are exceptionally low as a result. Showers or brief rainy spells provide only minimal relief.

Global warming is expected to make such summers more frequent. August is normally the wettest month of the year. Shifts in wind patterns often produce multi-week stretches of similar weather, keeping rain areas and showers at a distance while regularly drawing in hot air from southern Europe.

A partial solar eclipse will be visible over the Netherlands on Wednesday, Aug. 12. The moon will slide partially in front of the sun, appearing to take a small bite from it. The eclipse begins at 7:15 p.m. and reaches its peak around 8:11 p.m., when the moon will temporarily cover nearly 90 percent of the sun’s surface. With the sun low in the evening sky, outdoor conditions will become noticeably dim.

Weather maps for the second half of August initially show little change. Temperatures are expected to fluctuate around the usual late-August range of 20 to 23 degrees. Long-range forecasts carry uncertainty, but the maps indicate a somewhat wetter period. The chance of rain or scattered showers rises, and some of those showers may include thunderstorms.

The warm North Sea means most showers are likely to favor coastal regions. Dry stretches with sunshine are still expected at regular intervals.