Climate - West Frisian Islands (Netherlands)

The climate of the West Frisian Islands is sub-oceanic, humid and rainy, influenced by currents from the Atlantic and the North Sea, with cold, gray winters and mild or pleasantly warm summers.
The islands are located a short distance from the northern coast of the Netherlands, and belong to the historical region of Friesland, which continues along the coast of Germany and Denmark (where the East Frisian and North Frisian Islands are located).
The main islands are Texel, Terschelling, Ameland, Schiermonnikoog and Vlieland. There are also other smaller and uninhabited islands.
The wind blows frequently, and can be intense, especially from November to March. Not surprisingly, windsurfing and kitesurfing are practiced here.
Between the islands and the mainland lies a tidal zone called Wadden Sea.
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 3.2 °C (38 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 17.2 °C (63 °F). Here are the average temperatures in Hoorn, a village located on the island of Terschelling.

Precipitation amounts to 805 millimeters (31.7 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 35 mm (1.4 in) in the driest month (April) to 95 mm (3.7 in) in the wettest (October). Here is the average precipitation.

Winter, from December to February, is not very cold for the latitude, but is often humid, windy and rainy. There may be relatively mild periods, when Atlantic currents prevail, and other colder periods, when the temperature drops below freezing and it can snow. Because of the influence of the sea, temperatures drop below freezing less often than in the rest of the Netherlands. On the coldest days of the year, the temperature typically reaches -7 °C (19.5 °F).
Sometimes, however, there can be cold spells, in which the temperature can drop as low as -10 °C (14 °F) or even below. In fact, Scandinavian high pressure systems can reverse the normal circulation and bring very cold periods, which in the past were more frequent. The cold record is -12.5 °C (9.5 °F), set in January 1987.
Even in spring, until April or the first half of May, there is often cold and unstable weather.
In summer, from June to August the weather is variable, with fairly frequent rains, perhaps alternating with bright spells. There can be cool days, with highs of 15/17 °C and a moderate or strong wind from the sea. However, there are also mild or pleasantly warm periods.
At times, warm periods can occur, generally of short duration, which in recent years are becoming more frequent due to global warming, and in which the temperature can exceed 25 °C (77 °F). On the hottest days of the year, the temperature typically reaches 29/30 °C (84/86 °F). The heat record is 33 °C (91 °F), set in July 2018.



On average, there are around 1,905 sunshine hours per year. The amount of sunshine is slightly better than in the Dutch cities, where the sun shines for 1,700/1,800 hours a year. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

The sea temperature ranges from 4.5 °C (40 °F) in February to 18 °C (65 °F) in August. So, it never becomes warm for swimming (except for tourists from northern Europe). Here are the average sea temperatures.

Weather by month

Based on the period 1994 - 2020.
(January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December)

In January, the coldest month of the year, the average temperature is 3.3 °C (37.9 °F), with a minimum of 1.3 °C (34.3 °F) and a maximum of 5.3 °C (41.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature typically drops to -5 °C (23 °F). However, it dropped to -10.5 °C (13 °F) in January 1997.
On the mildest days of the month, the temperature typically reaches 9.5 °C (49 °F). However, it reached 12.5 °C (54 °F) in January 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 65 millimeters (2.6 inches), spread over 13 days.
On average, there are 72 hours of sunshine per month, ie 2.3 hours per day.

In February, the average temperature is 3.6 °C (38.4 °F), with a minimum of 1.4 °C (34.5 °F) and a maximum of 5.7 °C (42.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature typically drops to -4.5 °C (24 °F). However, it dropped to -11.5 °C (11 °F) in February 1996.
On the mildest days of the month, the temperature typically reaches 9.5 °C (49 °F). However, it reached 14.5 °C (58 °F) in February 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 50 millimeters (2 inches), spread over 11 days.
On average, there are 98 hours of sunshine per month, ie 3.5 hours per day.

In March, the average temperature is 5.3 °C (41.6 °F), with a minimum of 2.6 °C (36.6 °F) and a maximum of 8.1 °C (46.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature typically drops to -3 °C (27 °F). However, it dropped to -8 °C (17 °F) in March 2018.
On the mildest days of the month, the temperature typically reaches 13.5 °C (56 °F). However, it reached 16.5 °C (62 °F) in March 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 45 millimeters (1.8 inches), spread over 10 days.
On average, there are 163 hours of sunshine per month, ie 5.3 hours per day.

In April, the average temperature is 8.4 °C (47.1 °F), with a minimum of 4.9 °C (40.8 °F) and a maximum of 11.9 °C (53.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature typically drops to -1.5 °C (29 °F). However, it dropped to -5.5 °C (22 °F) in April 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature typically reaches 19 °C (66 °F). However, it reached 25 °C (77 °F) in April 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 35 millimeters (1.4 inches), spread over 8 days.
On average, there are 216 hours of sunshine per month, ie 7.2 hours per day.

In May, the average temperature is 11.7 °C (53.1 °F), with a minimum of 8.1 °C (46.6 °F) and a maximum of 15.3 °C (59.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature typically drops to 2 °C (36 °F). However, it dropped to -1 °C (30 °F) in May 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature typically reaches 22.5 °C (73 °F). However, it reached 28 °C (82 °F) in May 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 50 millimeters (2 inches), spread over 9 days.
On average, there are 247 hours of sunshine per month, ie 8 hours per day.

In June, the average temperature is 14.4 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 10.8 °C (51.4 °F) and a maximum of 18.1 °C (64.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature typically drops to 5 °C (41 °F). However, it dropped to 3 °C (38 °F) in June 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature typically reaches 25.5 °C (78 °F). However, it reached 30.5 °C (87 °F) in June 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 60 millimeters (2.4 inches), spread over 9 days.
On average, there are 227 hours of sunshine per month, ie 7.6 hours per day.

In July, the average temperature is 17 °C (62.6 °F), with a minimum of 13.2 °C (55.8 °F) and a maximum of 20.7 °C (69.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature typically drops to 7.5 °C (46 °F). However, it dropped to 5.5 °C (42 °F) in July 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature typically reaches 28 °C (82 °F). However, it reached 33 °C (91 °F) in July 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 70 millimeters (2.8 inches), spread over 10 days.
On average, there are 238 hours of sunshine per month, ie 7.7 hours per day.

In August, the warmest month of the year, the average temperature is 17.2 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 13.4 °C (56.2 °F) and a maximum of 21 °C (69.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature typically drops to 8 °C (47 °F). However, it dropped to 4.5 °C (40 °F) in August 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature typically reaches 27.5 °C (82 °F). However, it reached 31.5 °C (88 °F) in August 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 80 millimeters (3.1 inches), spread over 11 days.
On average, there are 217 hours of sunshine per month, ie 7 hours per day.

In September, the average temperature is 14.7 °C (58.5 °F), with a minimum of 11.4 °C (52.6 °F) and a maximum of 18 °C (64.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature typically drops to 6 °C (42 °F). However, it dropped to 3.5 °C (38 °F) in September 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature typically reaches 22.5 °C (72 °F). However, it reached 29 °C (84 °F) in September 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 90 millimeters (3.5 inches), spread over 11 days.
On average, there are 162 hours of sunshine per month, ie 5.4 hours per day.

In October, the average temperature is 11 °C (51.9 °F), with a minimum of 8.3 °C (46.9 °F) and a maximum of 13.8 °C (56.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature typically drops to 2.5 °C (36 °F). However, it dropped to -3.5 °C (26 °F) in October 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature typically reaches 18 °C (64 °F). However, it reached 21.5 °C (70 °F) in October 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 95 millimeters (3.7 inches), spread over 14 days.
On average, there are 126 hours of sunshine per month, ie 4.1 hours per day.

In November, the average temperature is 7.2 °C (45 °F), with a minimum of 5 °C (41.1 °F) and a maximum of 9.4 °C (49 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature typically drops to -0.5 °C (31 °F). However, it dropped to -5.5 °C (22 °F) in November 1998.
On the mildest days of the month, the temperature typically reaches 13.5 °C (56 °F). However, it reached 16 °C (60 °F) in November 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 85 millimeters (3.3 inches), spread over 15 days.
On average, there are 69 hours of sunshine per month, ie 2.3 hours per day.

In December, the average temperature is 4.4 °C (39.9 °F), with a minimum of 2.2 °C (36 °F) and a maximum of 6.5 °C (43.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature typically drops to -4.5 °C (24 °F). However, it dropped to -11.5 °C (12 °F) in December 2010.
On the mildest days of the month, the temperature typically reaches 10.5 °C (51 °F). However, it reached 13 °C (55 °F) in December 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 80 millimeters (3.1 inches), spread over 15 days.
On average, there are 65 hours of sunshine per month, ie 2.1 hours per day.

Best Time

The best time to visit the West Frisian Islands runs from June to August, since it is the warmest and sunniest period of the year. Sometimes, it can be hot in July and August, while in other circumstances, nights can be cool even in these months, so it can be useful to bring a sweatshirt or sweater and a light jacket.