Belgium, Netherlands: Adverse weather forecast across Belgium and southeastern parts of the Netherlands May 20

Event

Thunderstorms are forecast across Belgium and southeastern parts of the Netherlands May 20. The Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium has forecast stormy showers of variable intensity accompanied by strong winds across the country May 20, with the worst of the adverse weather in central and eastern regions. Intense rainfall bringing 5 cm (2 inches) of rainfall per hour or 4-6 cm (1.6-2.4 inches) in six hours is possible in eastern regions, as well as winds gusting around 90 kph (50 mph). The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Insitute has warned of strong thunderstorms in southeastern regions accompanied by wind gusts of 60-75 kph (37-47 mph), as well as some heavy downpours of 2-4 cm (0.8-1.6 inches) and possible hailstorms. The most severe weather is expected in Limburg Province, which could experience wind gusts of up to 100 kph (62 mph) and heavy rainfall of up to 5 cm (2 inches), which could cause flooding in the province. The storms are forecast to move eastwards into Germany late May 20.

As of May 20, the meteorological agencies for the respective countries have issued the following warnings across:

• Orange thunderstorm warnings (the middle level on a three-tier scale): Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, and Numaur provinces in Belgium, and Limburg Province in the Netherlands.

• Yellow thunderstorm warnings: Across the rest of Belgium, and Gelderland and North Brabant provinces in the Netherlands.

Officials could update and possibly extend the coverage of weather alerts over the coming days.

Hazardous Conditions
The storms could produce rounds of heavy precipitation, strong winds, and isolated thunderstorm activity. Heavy rainfall could trigger flash and areal flooding in parts of the affected area. Such flooding is possible in low-lying communities near watercourses and other large bodies of water, as well as in urban areas with easily overwhelmed stormwater drainage systems. Sites located downstream of large reservoirs may be subject to flash flooding after relatively short periods of intense rainfall. Strong winds associated with the storms could down power lines and cause power outages in the affected area.

Transport
The severe weather will likely contribute to transport disruptions throughout the region. Traffic and commercial trucking delays might occur along regional highways. Flooding downpours could inundate some low-lying roads in areas with poor drainage. Strong winds might also pose a hazard to high-profile vehicles. Hazardous weather conditions might cause flight delays and cancellations at airports in affected regions. Brussels Airport (BRU) has warned that flights may be affected during the severe weather May 20 after flights were briefly interrupted twice and some planes diverted due to adverse weather conditions May 19.

Advice

Monitor local media for updated emergency and weather information. Seek updated information on weather and road conditions before driving or routing shipments through areas where severe weather is forecast. Plan accordingly for potential delivery delays if routing shipments by truck through the affected area. Do not attempt to drive through flooded areas. Confirm flights. Charge battery-powered devices in the case of prolonged electricity outages.

Resources

MeteoAlarm
Belgium Royal Meteorological Institute
Royal Netherlands Meteorological Insitute (KNMI)