Weather stations recorded ground frost in the Netherlands on Tuesday morning, marking the first time temperatures at soil level have dropped below freezing in mid-July since records began.
Instruments measuring temperatures 10 centimeters above the grass at a meteorological site in Twente registered a reading of -0.1 degrees Celsius around 5:30 AM.
While brief drops in temperature are not entirely unknown during the summer months, Dutch weather archives show no previous instances of frost occurring between July 20 and August 21.
Dry soil accelerates nighttime cooling
The unusual drop in temperature was largely driven by a combination of clear night skies and prolonged dry weather across the country.
Ground moisture levels remain significantly lower than normal for this time of year, leading to water conservation measures in several eastern and southern regions.
Because dry sandy soil loses heat much faster than damp ground, surface temperatures can plummet rapidly overnight even after warm summer afternoons.
While ground frost was registered, air temperatures measured at standard height remained above freezing, meaning most gardens and urban areas escaped damage.
A history of volatile summer weather
Since detailed measurements at ground level started in 1971, surface frost has been recorded in July on only nine occasions.
The lowest July ground temperature on record occurred on July 4, 2019, when sensors recorded -1.6 degrees Celsius.
That same month went on to break heat records just three weeks later, when air temperatures reached an all-time high of 40.7 degrees Celsius in North Brabant.
Forecasters expect normal summer conditions to resume quickly across North Holland and the rest of the country as warmer air masses return.
