Various computational models and maps are appearing online that show extreme cold. For example, someone wrote on Twitter: “Sinterklaas is just a cold prediction. The real Freezer hit might follow later, under Groenland’s direction.”

The official KNMI column also shows that the temperature for the weekend of December 10 could trend towards -5 degrees. Weather fanatics expect the following weekend to be even colder. “Increased chance of rain and freezing snow. Like the winter of 1977,” someone writes.

Meteorologist Martin Dorrestein of Boenradar also uses the KNMI column. “You should actually see it in such a way that each line in that column has a 2 percent chance. So there’s a 2 percent chance of those outliers going down, but the same goes for the outside at 15 degrees.”

Extreme temperatures were also predicted for this past summer. Then it came to record temperatures of 45 degrees. Dorrestein then explained how meteorologists use different weather models:

Dorrestein isn’t expecting the dreaded freezing cold right now. “There could be some severe cold locally tonight, but then it will be at or below freezing point. Until Saturday, it will definitely remain above 0 during the day. And at night, there is a chance of light frost, with a maximum of 3 degrees below 0.” .”

Snow with Sinterklaas?

During the weekend in Sinterklaas there is a chance of frost, especially at nights, but “nothing severe” according to Dorstein. “It will snow in Germany, so there is a possibility that it will snow here and there as well.”

And what about the long term? The more you look at the column, the more unreliable it becomes. This is also the reason why meteorologists prefer not to give forecasts more than a week in advance.

“Right now, it looks like it’s going to be a little colder than average. That in itself is very special, because we’re often a little above average, but that frigid cold? That seems like a bit of an exaggeration.”