With an average temperature of 10.9°C compared to a long-term average of 9.9°C, the spring was mild. This spring was also very dry, with an average of 70 millimeters of precipitation across the country (the long-term average is 148 millimeters). Thus, it was the third driest spring after 1976 and 2011. This was mainly due to the month of March, which was the driest March since measurements began. The spring was not only very dry but also very sunny. The sun shone for an average of 775 hours. The long-term average is significantly lower, namely 567 hours of sunshine.
The spring was very dry, with an average of 70 millimeters across the country compared to a long-term average of 148 millimeters.
Third Driest Spring
The spring was very dry with an average of about 70 millimeters of precipitation across the country compared to a long-term average of 148 millimeters. Thus, it was the third driest spring since measurements began in 1906. Only in 2011 and 1976 was it drier with 49 and 61 millimeters of precipitation at the automatic weather stations, respectively. This was mainly due to the record dry March, which was the driest March since measurements began: 6 millimeters compared to a normal of 53 millimeters. April was slightly less dry, 30 millimeters compared to the long-term average of 40 millimeters. However, the differences were significant: along the (south)west coast, less than 10 millimeters fell, while in the (south)east and around the Veluwe, between 50 and 80 millimeters fell. May was also dry again: with an average of 35 millimeters compared to a long-term average of 55 millimeters.
Precipitation Deficit
The precipitation deficit, the difference between precipitation and evaporation, stands at the end of spring at an average of about 125 millimeters across the country. Thus, the growing season, which runs from April to September, is currently among the 5% driest.
At night, it regularly cooled down significantly due to clear skies, while during the day it was often sunny and mild.
Sunny and Mild During the Day, Significantly Cooling at Night
The spring was largely dominated by high-pressure areas. As a result, it was often sunny and mild during the day, but it cooled down significantly at night under clear skies. The coldest it got was on March 16 with -6.7°C in Eelde.
21 Warm Days and Four Summer Days
In total, the spring counted thirteen frost days (minimum temperature below 0.0°C), 21 warm days, and four summer days. Normally, there are twelve, seventeen, and four, respectively. The warmest it got this spring was on May 1 in Westdorpe: 29.5°C.
Second Sunniest Spring Since 1965
With 800 hours of sunshine, the spring was very sunny, while the long-term average is 567 hours. Thus, it was the second sunniest spring since at least 1965. Only in 2020 was it sunnier with 805 hours of sunshine.