Thursday 13 August 2020

Today, on the West coast of Holland where I live, we have entered the 9th day in a row when temperatures have hit the mid-to-high 30sC (100+F). A hundred years ago, the number of tropical days averaged just over one per year this year we have had 10 in August with two weeks still to come

Pictures from Holland during the heatwave, from my cousin Mo

The Koeppen-Geiger classification suggests the climate of The Netherlands can be classified as a warm temperate humid climate with the warmest month lower than 22°C over average and four or more months above 10°C over average. The year, however, our summer arrived in the middle of the winter and it just keeps getting warmer. We are on course to be subtropical in the next 10 years, a similar climate to North Africa, Southern Spain or Northern Florida.

Today, on the West coast of Holland where I live, we have entered the 9th day in a row when temperatures have hit the mid-to-high 30sC (100+F). Because Holland is so humid the actual temperature feels like 50 deg C, 122F and has been mostly unbearable. Last night, for instance, the temperature at bedtime was still above 30 deg C (86+F) rendering sleep impossible. The last 9 days is the second heatwave we have endured this summer.

The measured solar radiation (sunshine) between mid-March and mid-June was about 3 per cent higher than the average over the same period in the past four years. Since the measures against the spread of the coronavirus were announced, more solar radiation, (sunshine) has been able to reach the Earth's surface. This is evident from research by KNMI and TU Delft, however, a whole month before March arrived something strange happened to the Dutch weather.

This year our summer arrived in the middle of the winter. In the first week of February temperatures here in Holland reached a balmy 20 deg C (68F). My wife and I enjoyed the weather as we sat outside in the winter sun, it was glorious and something I had never witnessed before and since the beginning of February, the sunshine and indeed the summer has continued to provide day after day, hour after hour of sunshine.

A hundred years ago, the number of tropical days averaged just over one per year according to the KNMI. In recent years, there are around five per year. However, we have just entered the 9th tropical day in a row and the outlook is for the tropical weather to last well into next week. The highest maximum temperature of the year has increased much faster than the global average temperature since 1901. This aspect of summer is not exceptional in the expectation for 2020: the temperature of 33 to 34 degrees expected for Saturday, August 8, occurs more often than not today. Three-day average heat, which is more relevant to health, is no longer exceptional this year due to the sharp increase over the past century and it's getting more extreme every year. 

The number of tropical nights is also increasing of course. Minimum temperatures of 18 degrees or more are about three times as common this century as in the second half of the last century according to KNMI. In Vlissingen, for example, in 1951-2000 the minimum night temperature was 18 degrees or more on average four times a year, while this century was an average of thirteen times a year and rising. The relative increase in the number of tropical nights, with minimum temperatures of 20 degrees or more, is even greater making sleep difficult. 

8 comments:

Unknown said...

I wanted to get 8-4-20. KING of the north power struggle article. Could you send it to me.

Red Dog said...

It will help if you have your fans turned so they blow the hot air out at night. This will suck in the cooler night air, from other windows, what there is of it.
Ron from Canada

David Susen said...

When I first heard the concept of "Global Warming" I thought great! I live in the State of Maine in the United States - cold place in the winter. First thing that I thought was good warmer winters and longer growing seasons. I thought the same for Canada and Siberia - good warmer winters - those places will be more habitable for people. Why is it that nothing but bad can be said of "Global Warming"?

And why is it that if this article was about how to tie shoe laces the subject of the Corona Virus would somehow have to me mentioned?

john said...

For a number of reasons the amount of uvB radiation reaching the Earth's surface has reached dangerous levels. Chemtrailing used to keep this under a little control, but now, because of the drop in air traffic, the protective barrier is all but gone.

This video explains all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1yjlhti2AE

The excessive heating is creating increased evaporation, leading to more intense weather events. This will greatly affect agriculture, leading to mass starvation. Holland will come out of this very well, because most of the food is produced under glass. Russia will also be ok, Putin looks after his people.

I have been documenting all this through my FB discussion group called 'The Deagel Forum' for over 5 years.

Gary Walton said...

Haha, thanks, Ron from Canada

Gary Walton said...

It's strange, David Susen when the heatwave finally broke on Friday afternoon we badly needed water for the plants and vegetation, we got water alright, monsoon type storms, flash floods, heavy winds and damage from lightning. You see the weather now only deals in the extreme. Record hottest, record wettest, stormiest, coldest, windiest, dryest, it's as if the weather has gone nuts recently.

Gary Walton said...

Thanks, John, I will check that out

Melly said...

Sadly UVC rays are getting past our ozone & atmosphere and making it to us.