Fifth heatwave confirmed as temperatures reach 37°

Temperatures will reach 37° on Friday, after forecaster Weeronline confirmed the fifth regional heatwave of the year.

Temperatures will range from 33° in the north to 37° in the south and southeast, the national weather service KNMI said.

Five heatwaves in a single year have happened only once before, in 1947. Then it was Maastricht alone – this year several southern stations have reached the tally.

There will be no national heatwave, which is measured at the KNMI station in De Bilt, near Utrecht. Most of the country, including the Randstad and the north, will fall below the threshold.

KNMI has issued a code yellow warning for heat across the country. The national heat plan, run by public health institute RIVM, puts care homes and health services on alert. It covers the whole country on Friday and only the southeast on Saturday.

Friday night will stay warm, with temperatures holding near 20° in towns and cities.
Saturday will be cooler, with a chance of thunderstorms, although the southeast may still reach about 32°. Sunday will peak at 24°, and next week will be cooler and wetter, with maximums of 21 to 25° and rain likely from Tuesday.

The weekend rain will do little for the drought. Weeronline says short showers run off ground that is baked too hard to absorb water.