The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) will start providing more information about perceived temperatures in reports on weather in the Netherlands, especially during hotter periods, NOS has reported. 

Dutch weather warnings to go beyond temperature

Have you ever noticed that it feels hotter than what is shown on the thermometer during a hot summer's day? This is because wind, radiant heat and humidity all play a role in the temperature we feel.

This perceived temperature is what KNMI will provide more information on in the future, and it will also be taken into account when issuing weather warnings for heat waves. "If we see that the heat power is high, that is a reason to issue a heavier code more quickly," KNMI CEO Maarten van Aalst told NOS.  

KNMI together with several Dutch organisations developed a heat warning system called the “heat power index” so that people living in the Netherlands have access to all the information about wind, radiant heat and humidity and can plan ahead for a hot day. This is especially important for the elderly, who are more sensitive to heat, or workers who perform hard labour outside in the sun, such as construction workers or the police. 

2023 and 2024 saw record-high temperatures in the Netherlands

For two years in a row, the Netherlands has experienced record high temperatures, with the mercury rising to an average of 11,8 degrees celsius. Warming at a rate of approximately 0,4 degrees per 10 years, temperatures in the Netherlands are rising twice as fast as the global average.

When you look at the period 1901 to 1930, last year was on average 2,9 degrees warmer. "People are sometimes surprised by that, but that is a big difference,” said Van Aalst explaining the need for more focus on perceived temperatures. “And in warmer climates, heat waves are more likely to occur. That was not the case last year, but we estimate that that was the exception and that we will therefore encounter it more often.” 

A marathon in Leiden last year where several runners had to be taken to the hospital is given as an example. "It was 25 degrees then, and you would think you could handle that, but the humidity was also high. That combination led to a high load on the aid stations, which caused the event to be stopped halfway through the afternoon. Attention to heat power, also in the preparation and communication, can help in such a case," Van Aalst said. 

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