Wind gusts up to 120 km/h on Friday across much of the Netherlands

Most of the provinces of the Netherlands were expected to be hit with severe winds on Friday morning and afternoon, with gusts approaching 120 kilometers per hour. Nine of the country’s provinces were placed under a Code Yellow weather warning starting as early as 4 a.m., and lasting as late as 1 p.m.

“Strong wind gusts are expected in the north, northwest, and around the IJsselmeer on Friday morning,” Dutch meteorological service KNMI announced on Thursday. The wind from out of the west-northwest will reach measure between 100 and 120 km/h along the Wadden Sea and Wadden Islands.

The wind will likely peak at about 90 to 100 km/h along the coast of Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland. Further inland, gusts will range from 75 to 90 km/h, the KNMI said.

In Noord-Holland and the Wadden Island regions, the Code Yellow warning will be in effect beginning at 4 a.m. It will begin two hours later around the IJsselmeer and in Flevoland and Friesland. Gelderland, Utrecht and Zuid-Holland were added to the alert with effect from 7 a.m. The warning period starts at 8 a.m. in Drenthe, Groningen, and Overijssel.

The worst of the stormy weather should pass Noord-Holland by about 11 a.m., and Flevoland, Gelderland, Utrecht, Zuid-Holland and the IJsselmeer an hour later. The alert should be lifted everywhere by 1 p.m.

“The strong wind gusts may cause traffic disruptions, especially for cyclists and those driving trucks and cars with trailers. Tree branches may also break off and cause danger,” the KNMI said. “During the first half of Friday afternoon, the wind will decrease again, and the heavy wind gusts will disappear.”

The heavy winds will be accompanied by periods of rain, especially in the north and east of the country. Those in the southern regions of the Netherlands will likely see the weather remain dry, and the sun might make an appearance.

Temperatures should range from about 6 degrees Celsius during the overnight hours, to a high of about 8 degrees during the afternoon. The coastal provinces might see the thermometer reach up to 9 degrees leading up to a relatively dry evening.

By Friday evening, the rain could start up again in the southwest. The weather should be “variable during the weekend, with occasional rain, and sometimes a lot of wind,” the KNMI said. A high of about 10 degrees is expected on Saturday, but with a greater chance of rainfall.

Sunday will remain a bit soggy with temperatures up to 8 degrees, with cooler days to start the week. However, the first three workdays have a lower 30 percent chance of precipitation with the wind becoming much more still by Wednesday.

From December 12, the KNMI expects the chance of rain to become a 50-50 proposition as the wind picks up again. It might also be a bit warmer, but the forecast “is somewhat uncertain,” the KNMI stated.