Thunderstorms, hail to hit the Netherlands on Saturday afternoon

After a summery Friday with plenty of sunshine and temperatures up to 27 degrees, the Netherlands will be hit by thunderstorms on Saturday afternoon. The KNMI issued a code yellow storm warning for the entire country except the Wadden Islands, warning of thunderstorms accompanied by hail, strong winds, and heavy downpours.

“Mid-Saturday afternoon, heavy rain and thunderstorms will reach the south of the country. The showers will move across the country from southwest to northeast, and may be accompanied by hail, wind gusts, and heavy precipitation,” the meteorological institute said. “Traffic and outdoor activities may be locally affected by the showers, particularly due to flooding.”

The warning first takes effect in Zeeland, Noord-Brabant, and Limburg at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, and then gradually moves northeast across the country, until it takes effect in Groningen at 8:00 p.m. The storms should leave the Netherlands by midnight.

Prepare for hailstones up to 2 centimeters in size, strong winds with gusts up to 75 kilometers per hour, and up to 20 millimeters of rain falling in a short time, the KNMI advised.

The storms may bring reprieve to the wildfires raging in several places in the Netherlands. But before the thunderstorms, the Netherlands has some summer weather to look forward to.

Friday is sunny and dry with a moderate east to south east wind, which may be strong along the coast. Maximums will range from 22 degrees Celsius in the Wadden Islands to up to 27 degrees Celsius in the south of the country.

The evening will be sunny everywhere, but cloud cover will increase later in the southwest. No rain and a light-to-moderate southeasterly wind are expected.

Saturday will be light to partly cloudy, until the showers and thunderstorms hit in the south halfwy through the afternoon. Maximums will range between 18 degrees on the northwest coast and 25 degrees in the southeast.