2013 was cold, dry and sunny – and broke a few records

2013 was a relatively cold year with less rain than normal and more sun, the KNMI weather bureau said on Friday.

The average temperature measured at the Bilt weather station near Utrecht was 9.8 Celsius, compared with an average temperature of 10.1 Celsius, the KNMI said.

The first half of the year was cold and March was the coldest since 1987. Spring was the coldest in 40 years. The second half of the year was much warmer, with high temperature records set in October.

December is the joint sixth-warmest since records began, with an average temperature so far of 5.8 Celcius. In an average December, it is two degrees colder, the KNMI said.

There was less rain and snow than normal – 750 millimetres compared with 849 millimetres. Hoek van Holland near Rotterdam was the wettest place and Den Helder in the north of Noord Holland province was the driest. Den Helder was also the sunniest location with 1,880 hours of sunshine.

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