A prolonged period of hot weather is heading for the southern Netherlands, with parts of Limburg and Brabant likely to see a local heatwave starting this weekend, according to forecasts from Weeronline and Weerplaza.

Temperatures are expected to climb steadily this week, with highs of 24 to 28° on Tuesday and Wednesday, and potentially exceeding 30° by the weekend.

Towns such as Eindhoven, Venlo and Landgraaf – where the Pinkpop festival is being held – could see three consecutive days of 30° or more. If the pattern holds, parts of the south could meet the official criteria for a local heatwave: five days of at least 25°, including three above 30°.

Weeronline meteorologist Matthijs van der Linden warned that wind direction will be key. “If the wind turns inland and pushes out the cooler sea air, there’s a good chance of a heatwave in the south,” he said.

Although an official national heatwave — measured in De Bilt near Utrecht — is unlikely, it cannot be ruled out if temperatures climb slightly further over the weekend.

Next week is also expected to remain warm, with daytime temperatures hovering above 25°, and a chance of further 30° days. Nights will stay relatively mild, contributing to the gradual rise in temperatures.

With a new dry spell already underway, the current rainfall deficit of around 130 millimetres is likely to worsen, pushing conditions close to those seen in 1976 — one of the driest years on record, Weeronline said.

Water authorities are already taking precautions, including retaining water in the IJsselmeer and Markermeer, and restricting groundwater use in parts of the east and south. Weeronline says further drought-related measures are “inevitable” if the heat continues into late June.

The KNMI weather bureau’s long term forecast suggest there could be some rain the week after next but that it will remain mainly dry and warm up to July.