February 2025 brought notably cooler and considerably drier conditions to South Holland compared to historical averages. The month presented an interesting contrast between cold spells and mild days, while sunshine hours exceeded expectations despite the overall chill.
Temperature Overview
The average temperature for February in South Holland reached 3.8 degrees Celsius, falling 2.1 degrees below the normal value of 5.9 degrees. This cooler-than-average pattern was particularly pronounced during mid-month. The coldest reading occurred in Gouda on February 17th, when temperatures plummeted to minus 4.7 degrees Celsius. In stark contrast, Dordrecht experienced the warmest conditions on February 21st, recording a pleasant 18.0 degrees Celsius, demonstrating the variability typical of early spring transitions in the Netherlands.
Precipitation Patterns
February proved significantly drier than normal across the province. Total precipitation averaged 36.1 millimeters, representing a substantial 54 percent decrease from the normal monthly total of 78.4 millimeters. The wettest single day occurred in Nieuwkoop on February 11th, with 12.4 millimeters of rainfall. When examining total precipitation by location, Zoetermeer recorded the highest cumulative amount at 40.4 millimeters, though this remained well below seasonal expectations throughout the region.
Sunshine and Notable Conditions
Despite the cooler temperatures, sunshine hours performed exceptionally well. South Holland received 147.4 hours of sunshine during February, surpassing the normal value of 123.0 hours by 20 percent. This above-average sunshine contributed to the pleasant conditions experienced on warmer days, particularly around the February 21st maximum.
The month's weather pattern reflected a classic early-year scenario for the Netherlands, with cold continental influences keeping temperatures suppressed while high-pressure systems limited precipitation and allowed frequent sunny intervals. The combination of below-normal rainfall and above-normal sunshine created relatively dry conditions across South Holland throughout the month.