Code Orange alert issued with up to 10cm of snow expected in Groningen
The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) issued an orange alert for Groningen on Thursday due to heavy snowfall in the region. Snow accumulation is expected to range from 5 to 10 centimeters, posing significant challenges for road users. The warning remains in effect until 9 p.m., according to a KNMI spokesperson. The Code Orange warning for Groningen will be downgraded to Code Yellow at 9 p.m. Thursday, remaining in effect until 8 a.m. Friday.
The snowfall has caused widespread disruption, with Rijkswaterstaat reporting treacherous driving conditions in Groningen and North Holland. In North Holland, a yellow alert for icy roads is in place until 7 p.m. Thursday. Regions under a yellow alert could see snowfall accumulations of up to 5 centimeters, with icy road conditions posing risks for drivers.
Yellow alerts have also been issued for Overijssel, Drenthe, and Friesland, with conditions expected to persist until 8 a.m. Friday. Later Thursday night, Gelderland, Flevoland, and Utrecht will experience yellow alerts from 10 p.m. until 8 a.m. Friday. In the southern provinces of North Brabant and Limburg, yellow alerts are forecast from midnight until 10 a.m. Friday. The KNMI has issued no weather warnings for South Holland and Zeeland.
KNMI warned that the northern half of the country could experience icy conditions from snow, hail showers, and freezing of wet road surfaces. In Groningen, snowfall could create a localized snow cover exceeding 5 centimeters. The hazardous weather is expected to impact both traffic and outdoor activities across affected regions.
Motorists are urged to exercise caution and prepare for delays. "Winter precipitation and freezing can make roads extremely slippery, particularly overnight and early Friday morning," a KNMI advisory stated.
“Traffic in the north of the country is experiencing major delays on Thursday afternoon due to winter weather,” said Dutch travel association ANWB. About 620 kilometers of the country’s motorways were clogged up at 6 p.m.
The worst traffic delays were encountered on the A4 between Rotterdam and The Hague, and then on towards Amsterdam, on the A58 especially between Vlissingen and Breda, and then again eastbound from Tilburg. There were also problems at various points along the A2 in both directions.
