KNMI: code 'orange' for Thursday

The KNMI warns for extreme weather Thursday afternoon. From 12:00 code 'orange' will be in effect for the west and north of The Netherlands, the rest of the country will be issued a code 'yellow', starting at 9:00, announced the KNMI Wednesday.Code 'orange' indicates chance of very heavy gusts of wind. Earlier Wednesday, the KNMI had already issued a code 'yellow' for Thursday, but in the course of the day it's been upgraded to code 'orange.' From halfway into the morning heavy gusts between 75 to 100 km per hour are possible. In the afternoon there may even be very heavy gusts between 100 to 120 km per hour in the west and northwest, with peaks in the Wadden area to 130 km per hour. In the evening and night the gusts will lose in strength. The heavy storm is the result of a strong storm depression, that developed over the course of Wednesday south of Iceland. On October 28, gusts of 152 km per hour were measured. The Dutch railway suffered severe damages and the storm left two dead in its wake. The NS will not operate on an amended timetable, according to a spokesperson for the NS. In the event problem arise, the railway company will make regional adjustments, but for now, no extra measures are deemed necessary. The evening rush hour can be more hectic and start earlier than normal. Because of "pakjesavond," the Sinterklaas celebration, many working people leave work a little earlier. Rough weather will certainly impact traffic, predicts the ANWB. The initial rush hour traffic may already be noticed around 15:00 on Thursday. The roads will be busiest around 17:00, an hour earlier than usual. The Thursday afternoons are statistically already the busiest of the week on the road, according to ANWB. The KLM will keep dozens of planes on the ground Thursday, because of the expected Northwest storm. It concerns a total of 42 flights within Europe of both KLM and KLM Cityhopper, announced an informant. The flights are cancelled as a precaution. All passengers have been informed. They are offered the option of flying on another day. The remainder of the people that travel with KLM on Thursday, are advised to keep an eye on the site of the airline company. In view of expected high water levels, Rijkswaterstaat will close the Oosterschelde and the Algera storm surge barriers in the Hollandsche IJssel in the night of Thursday to Friday. Some other flood gates will also be closed, announced Rijkswaterstaat Wednesday.