Warning issued for wind gusts up to 110 km/h Wednesday in parts of the Netherlands

The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) has issued a Code Yellow warning for severe wind gusts across multiple provinces for Wednesday afternoon and evening. The warning, initially announced Monday evening for coastal areas, has now been extended inland.

The affected provinces include Zeeland, South Holland, North Holland, Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe, Overijssel, Flevoland, the Wadden Islands, and the IJsselmeer region. According to the KNMI, strong winds will move northeast from the southwestern part of the country throughout the day.

Wind gusts along the coast are expected to reach speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph), while inland areas could experience gusts of around 80 kilometers per hour (50 mph). These conditions could cause disruptions to road and air traffic, with heightened risks for drivers and potential delays at airports.

The KNMI reported moderate to strong southwesterly winds on Tuesday along the coast, reaching wind speeds of 5 to 6 on the Beaufort scale. While these winds are expected to weaken by Tuesday evening, conditions will intensify again on Wednesday.

Wednesday morning will bring moderate southeasterly winds inland, shifting to stronger winds along the northwest coast. By evening, the wind will turn southwesterly and increase in intensity, reaching speeds equivalent to 7 or 8 on the Beaufort scale along the coast, with the possibility of a brief northwesterly storm (force 9).

“Wednesday evening will see heavy cloud cover with rain primarily in the northern and western regions,” the KNMI stated. “In the west, wind gusts of 80 to 90 kilometers per hour (50-56 mph) are expected, and along the coast, gusts could reach 100 kilometers per hour. The wind will gradually ease in the southwest later in the evening.”

By Thursday, showers will persist in some areas as the storm system moves eastward. Conditions are expected to improve throughout the day, with drier weather and occasional sunshine. Daytime highs will hover around 9 degrees Celsius (48°F), accompanied by moderate northwesterly winds.

Looking ahead, Friday and Saturday are expected to remain dry with sunny intervals. Daytime temperatures will reach about 9 degrees Celsius, but nighttime lows could drop below freezing inland, bringing a risk of frost.

While Wednesday’s wind event is not classified as a named storm, residual impacts from Storm Bert— which hit Ireland and the United Kingdom over the weekend—have already affected parts of the Netherlands. Friesland, in particular, has faced elevated water levels, with pumps operating at full capacity to manage the situation.

Water levels in Dokkum reached rare heights, according to Wetterskip Fryslân, the regional water authority. “This is a scenario we see only once every 25 years,” a spokesperson said.

Residents in affected regions are advised to exercise caution during peak wind conditions and monitor updates from local authorities.