The gale force 9 winds that battered the coast at IJmuiden on Monday for an hour have prompted meteorologists to declare the first storm of the autumn season and the third of 2025.

Previous storms were recorded on New Year’s Day and January 6, when storm Floriane also reached an average gale force of 9.

“For strong winds to be classified as an official storm, the average windspeed at a KNMI weather station needs to correspond to a gale force 9 for at least an hour,” weather bureau Weeronline explained.

This year’s first autumn storm came early; it usually takes place around October 15. The heaviest gusts, of some 102 kilometres an hour, were measured on a dyke between Enkhuizen and Lelystad.

The storm toppled trees in The Hague and Tilburg and in Leeuwarden the windows of a car park were damaged. In Rotterdam harbour, four cars were crushed by containers that had become dislodged by the wind.

Tuesday’s budget day weather will remain blustery, and MPs may have to hold on their hats. Calmer weather will follow later on in the day. Temperatures will be around 17C.

Wednesday will be wet but sunny and warm weather will brighten up Thursday, Friday and Saturday, when temperatures can reach 25C and even 27C in the south of the country

On Sunday the weather will become unsettled again with temperatures plummeting to 18C.