April the only month that has never had a code orange or code red weather warning
April remains the only month in the Netherlands that has never triggered a code orange or red weather warning, the KNMI said Wednesday. The finding comes from more than 15 years of KNMI warning data, which shows that while dangerous weather occurs year-round, April stands out as an exception.
The agency issues color-coded alerts—yellow, orange, and red—when weather poses increasing levels of risk. Code orange and red warnings indicate a high likelihood of dangerous conditions with potential for damage, injury, or significant disruption. By contrast, code yellow warnings, apply to more common and generally manageable situations such as temporary dense fog.
Since 2010, the KNMI has issued between five and 12 code orange or red warnings annually, averaging about eight per year. By February 2026, the average had already reached that level.
Nearly half of all severe warnings—48 percent—occurred during the winter months, while 36 percent were issued in summer. Spring and autumn each accounted for just 8 percent. After April, the months with the fewest severe warnings were September and October. The KNMI noted there is no clear long-term trend in the number of warnings issued per year.
The majority of warnings were issued for icy conditions caused by freezing rain or snow, accounting for 40 percent of cases. Thunderstorms followed at 33 percent, and strong wind gusts made up 19 percent. The KNMI reported that no code orange or red warnings have ever been issued for cold temperatures alone.
About one in seven severe warnings reached the highest level, code red. Roughly two-thirds of those occurred in winter and one-third in summer, with virtually none in spring or autumn. Code red warnings were most often issued for severe wind gusts during storms.
The KNMI also announced changes to its warning system. Currently, alerts are issued at the provincial level, which can result in broad warnings even when hazardous weather is localized. The agency has developed a system to better detect and track individual storm cells, particularly summer thunderstorms that often cause damage in limited areas.
Starting this summer, users will be able to receive location-specific alerts for dangerous thunderstorms via the KNMI app. The agency intends to start issuing color-coded warnings for smaller geographic areas, as opposed to entire provinces, starting next year.
