With an average temperature of 2.500b0C in De Bilt compared to a long-term average of 3.600b0C, January was cold. It was the coldest January since 2017, when it was 1.600b0C. The month was rather sunny and there was an average amount of precipitation (about 70 mm). Most precipitation fell in the first half of the month and often in the form of snow. We issued seven times orange code warnings for slippery conditions, both due to snow and ice.
Snow
Especially in the first week of January, a substantial snow cover built up in a large part of the country. From January 5 to 8, some places, mainly in the central and northern parts of the country, had more than 20 centimeters of snow. On January 7, there was a period of wind force 7 at the north coast due to low-pressure area Goretti, causing snowdrifts. On January 8 and 9, rain fell in the central and southern parts of the country, causing much of the snow cover to quickly disappear. In two days, locally more than 20 millimeters of precipitation fell.
Ice
On January 11 and 12, we warned for ice in a large part of the country. And in the north, on January 23 and 24, orange code warnings for slippery conditions due to ice were also in effect. In the following days, a snow cover of a few centimeters built up again in the northeast. On January 29, almost the entire country, except Zeeland, again experienced snow.
Lowest and highest temperature of the month
On January 10, the temperature in De Bilt did not rise above freezing all day, resulting in an ice day. The following night, temperatures dropped further, especially in the northeast. In Eelde, the temperature reached -11.600b0C on January 11, the lowest temperature this month.
The warmest temperature was recorded on January 17 in Beek near Maastricht at 12.900b0C, the highest temperature this month. The following days showed large temperature differences across the country. For example, on January 24, the south had around 1000b0C, while the northeast remained below freezing.
Normal = the long-term average over the period 1991-2020.