Trend Wetter winters, drier summers and more water extremes in the Netherlands

Summary

The report finds that the Netherlands is warming faster than the global average, mainly because cooling aerosols have declined and because of the country's location. According to the Dutch meteorological institute, the climate is becoming warmer and wetter but also drier. Flows in the Rhine and Meuse will be much higher in winter while summers bring longer droughts and low water levels, and short, intense downpours are increasing sharply, especially in summer, causing local flooding. Despite wetter winters, higher evaporation and less rain make summers drier and droughts longer, and salinisation creates problems for agriculture, nature and water management. In dry summers, when fresh water is scarce, competition for it grows between agriculture, nature, shipping and drinking water.