Icy roads trigger code orange alert across Northern Netherlands
Updated at 9:20 to add that the warning has been downgraded to yellow in Friesland and the Wadden Islands.
Dangerous icy conditions triggered a code orange alert overnight into the early morning Saturday across the northern and northeastern Netherlands, where freezing rain, ice pellets, and snow caused dangerous road conditions, leading to a car overturning in Akkrum.
The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, or KNMI, issued a code orange for Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe, Overijssel, Flevoland, and the Wadden Islands due to widespread icy conditions caused by freezing rain. The warning was later downgraded to yellow in Friesland and the Wadden Islands.
Weather service Weeronline said Groningen was the most dangerous province for travel. There, precipitation in the form of icy rain and snow is expected to continue into the afternoon. Temperatures were forecast to remain around -1 degree Celsius throughout the day.
The hazardous conditions caused at least one traffic incident. In Akkrum, in Friesland, a motorist lost control on the icy roads, and the car overturned. A towing company planned to remove the badly damaged vehicle. No injuries were reported and police brought the driver home.
KNMI data indicates a higher frequency of severe weather warnings in early 2026 compared to the entirety of 2025. Last year, code orange was declared five times, covering a total of seven days, with only two alerts related to snow, ice, or slippery conditions. In the first weeks of 2026, code orange has already been issued seven times, covering nine days, all linked to snow, freezing rain, or dangerous road conditions.
