Busy morning rush hour ahead due to storms

The Netherlands can expect a difficult rush hour on Thursday morning due to rain and flooded roads. Meteorological institute issued a code yellow storm warning for the entire country.

The storm warning covers the entire Netherlands for most of the day. Some provinces can expect a short break in stormy weather around mid-morning, only for it to start up again early afternoon. According to the KNMI, the storms may be accompanied by lightning, hail, strong winds and hard rain. "Avoid open water and open areas, do not shelter under trees. Follow weather reports and warnings", the KNMI advises.

According to traffic information service VID, the rainy weather is already causing trouble on the roads. On the A28 near Uithof two lanes are closed in both directions because of water on the road. The N11 from Leiden to Bodegraven is close at Alphen-Aquaduct due to flooding. There is a long traffic jam between Rijswijk and Roelofarendsveen on the A4 towards Amsterdam after a hard shower. And on the A4 towards Amsterdam the right lane is closed at Prins Clausplein due to water on the road.

The weather may also affect train traffic, though as of 7:30 a.m. NS has not reported any problems. Train travelers are advised to follow the actual situation closely before leaving for the station.

The stormy weather will last well into the evening, according to KNMI. So VID expects that evening rush hour will be difficult too.

Hard rain and thunderstorms caused quite a bit of trouble in the western parts of the country during the early hours of Thursday morning. According to ANP, emergency services were barraged with calls when the showers started around 2:00 a.m, especially on the Zuid-Holland islands and the Rotterdam and The Hague areas.

Despite the rain and storms, Thursday is expected to turn into this year's first tropical day, with afternoon temperatures running up to 30 degrees.