Meteorologists are carefully monitoring an area of high pressure over Scandinavia to see if it will bring a cold snap to the Netherlands, RTL reported on Friday.

If the high pressure region develops strongly, that could mean a lengthy period of cold weather in the Netherlands, they say.

Robert de Vries, weatherman for local broadcaster Omroep Flevoland, described the developments as interesting, adding that an easterly to northeasterly wind was becoming dominant.

Interessante ontwikkelingen vanaf begin december. De wind lijkt voor langere tijd een oost tot noordoostelijke voorkeur te krijgen. De temperatuur daalt tot onder het gemiddelde (1991-2020). Misschien aanzetje tot winterweer? Komende dagen maar eens afwachten. pic.twitter.com/ucKTmjNPUm

— ➡️ RobertDeVries.net (@weermanrobert) November 23, 2022

The KNMI weather bureau too foresees colder weather next week, particularly from Thursday onward. It says there is an 80% chance of a shift to dry, chilly weather with temperatures a little below average and light frosts at night, well into December.

Independent meteorologist Michael van der Poel said on Twitter that the weather situation – and a ‘classic Russian, Scandinavian cold’ could indicate ‘winter is coming’.

Klassiek Russisch / Scandinavische kouinval medio december? De laatste runprogs komen opnieuw met een dik winters signaal!🥶 #winter #winteriscoming pic.twitter.com/WltRWwTBS3

— Michael vd Poel☀️❄️ (@WeermanMichael) November 24, 2022

The Buienradar blog takes a similar view. If current weather patterns continue, the likelihood of ‘real freezing cold’ will increase, wrote Sebastiaan Aarts. ‘What we can say is that this meteorological winter is starting off chilly and that has been very different in recent years.’