Europe Hit by Extreme Weather: 300,000 Lightning Strikes in 24 Hours

The Netherlands was struck by a severe storm following record-breaking temperatures. Amsterdam witnessed over 300,000 lightning strikes in 24 hours. The Amsterdam sky was illuminated like daylight for hours, with 17 lightning strikes per second. Such extreme storms are rare in the Netherlands but become more likely after periods of extremely hot weather. The country issued its first-ever “Red Code” heat warning. Temperatures in Amsterdam remained above 30 degrees for over a week, nearing 40 degrees in some areas. The collision of the warm, humid air mass with the incoming cool air resulted in an explosive storm. The meteorological institute issued an “Orange Code” warning for severe weather conditions. The light show in the sky was accompanied by significant damage from the storm. An eyewitness described the event as “the craziest thing I've ever seen” in an interview with local media.