Code yellow from 10:00 PM: thunderstorms, hail, and flooding
The KNMI (Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute) has issued a code yellow warning starting at 10:00 PM tonight. The warning initially applies to eight provinces: Zeeland, North Brabant, South Holland, North Holland, Flevoland, Utrecht, Gelderland, and Limburg. The showers will begin in the south of the country and move further north throughout the night. From 1:00 AM tonight, code yellow will apply to the entire country.
What it involves: severe thunderstorms with wind gusts of up to 60 kilometers per hour and hailstones with a diameter of up to 2 centimeters. A large amount of rain may fall in a short time, which could lead to local flooding. The weather will remain unsettled on Friday as well, and further thunderstorms are possible during the day, so the disruption will not be over by morning.
What this means in practical terms for tonight and tomorrow morning: secure or bring inside garden furniture, parasols, bicycles, and trash bins, as wind gusts of this strength can move loose items. If possible, do not park directly under trees. Anyone who needs to be out this evening or at night should account for poor visibility and water on the road; when cycling, open dikes, bridges, and overpasses are the places where the wind hits the hardest. During a thunderstorm, do not take shelter under a tree or in a bus stop, but rather indoors or in a car.
Keep in mind that train and bus services may experience delays tomorrow morning if there are branches or water on the tracks or the road. Plan for extra travel time if you have to work early, have an appointment with an agency, or are taking a child to school or daycare. Check the current travel information from your carrier before you leave. If you cannot make an appointment due to the weather, it is best to report this as early as possible by phone or digitally, so that a new date can be scheduled and no absence is recorded. In case of acute danger to life, call 112; for storm and water damage, contact your municipality or insurer.