Dangerous icy roads in the north this evening: Code Orange warning issued
The KNMI has issued a Code Orange warning for the northern parts of the Netherlands, where freezing rain is expected to cause treacherously slippery conditions from late this evening through tomorrow morning.
KNMI’s warning is applicable from midnight to 7 a.m. for Friesland and Drenthe, from midnight to 9 a.m for the Wadden Islands and from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m in Groningen. Neighboring provinces, including Flevoland, Overijssel, Gelderland, and Noord-Holland, are also under a lighter Code Yellow alert. In these areas, the ice is expected to be more localized and shorter-lived, with the weather warning lasting from 11 p.m. on Thursday to 3 a.m. on Friday.
“The rain will fall where the temperature will be a few degrees below zero, leading to the formation of freezing rain on roads, foot paths, and cycling paths, making them treacherous,” the KNMI said. “The icy conditions will disappear over the course of the morning, lasting only in Groningen.”
People are advised to adjust their speed and driving behavior, keep extra distance, and only go out on the road if absolutely necessary. The safety risk is expected to clear from the southwest to the northeast, with the Groningen remaining slippery until around noon.
Clouds will increase nationwide this evening. Scattered drizzle is expected, and freezing rain is expected to persist in the north and northeast. Temperatures will fall to -3 degrees Celsius in the northeast, while staying around 4 degrees Celsius in the southwest.
The weather is expected to be predominantly cloudy and dry tomorrow morning, with the exception of the northeast, where icy patches from freezing rain could linger.
In the afternoon, cloudy to heavily overcast skies and generally dry conditions are forecast, except for some light rain in the southern regions in the evening. Temperatures will vary widely, ranging from 0°C in the northeast to 10°C in the south.
An east wind is expected, varying from light to moderate over inland areas, and increasing to fairly strong to strong (force 5–6) over the Wadden Sea and the IJsselmeer.
