For the first time in recorded history, ground frost has been measured in the Netherlands in the middle of July. Early on Tuesday, July 21, temperatures dropped to -0.1 degrees Celsius at a height of 10 centimetres in Twente, according to Weeronline.
Summer frost is already a rare event, but this occurrence marks the latest date ever recorded for frost between July 20 and August 21 since measurements began in 1971. Only nine instances of July frost have been recorded, with the coldest being -1.6°C on July 4, 2019.
The unusual frost is linked to the ongoing drought in the Netherlands. Meteorologists explain that dry sandy soils, like those in Twente, cool down rapidly on clear nights. Water levels are significantly lower than usual, leading to an official water shortage.
This event highlights the extreme weather patterns associated with climate change. Just weeks after the record-breaking heatwave in 2019, the Netherlands experienced both its highest temperature and a summer frost in the same month.
Article and image source: iamexpat.nl
