Temperatures in the Netherlands are set to drop sharply this week, with an increasing chance of frost each day and possible outdoor skating in the northeast by the weekend, according to weather bureau Weeronline.

Monday will remain relatively calm, with a mix of cloud and sunshine and some morning mist in places. Maximum temperatures will range from 4° to 7°.

Tuesday is set to be bright and dry, with plenty of sunshine. A weak to moderate easterly wind will keep temperatures around 5° in the northeast, rising locally to 9° in the southwest.

From Wednesday, colder air will move in and overnight temperatures could drop to around -5° in the northeast. Daytime highs there will struggle to reach more than 3°, while central and southern regions will remain milder at between 5° and 7°. It will be dry and sunny

Thursday looks similar, Weeronline said, but uncertainty increases as the week goes on. The boundary between colder air in the north and milder air further south is expected to fluctuate, potentially shifting several hundred kilometres from day to day.

That makes a significant difference to temperatures and likelihood of frost. In the north, daytime highs are likely to remain around 2° or 3°, while elsewhere it will be warmer at 5° to 7°.

If current forecasts hold, the northeast could see several days with daytime temperatures around freezing and moderate frost at night. That, combined with dry conditions, would favour the formation of natural ice on artifical rinks and shallow lakes.

There is also a chance of increased cloud and some precipitation on Friday and Saturday – either rain or snow depending on the location.

The KNMI’s long range forecast into February says the outlook is unclear with either wintry weather and some snow or warmer weather and rain.