A code orange weather warning now applies to several northern Dutch provinces, with a code yellow applying to the rest of the country.
In a live blog published by the Dutch Meteorological Institute (KNMI), the provinces of Friesland, Groningen, and Drenthe — in addition to the Wadden Islands — are now subject to a stronger weather warning.
This code orange was announced at 7:55 PM yesterday (January 8) and will be in effect until noon today (January 9).
Expect strong winds and potential snowdrifts in the north
Thanks to continuous snowfall and strong winds in the north, the KNMI warns that conditions could be ripe for snowdrifts.
These are banks of deep snow that occasionally form with wind forces above 6 or 7, which can be a significant hindrance to traffic and public transport if they form on roads.
Even worse: this lifting of snow will hamper visibility and can be comparable to dense fog. Should the snow be especially heavy, we could see visibility drop to 500m — or even 50m in the worst conditions.
A code yellow weather warning remains in effect for snow, rain, and slippery conditions across the rest of the country.
Wind chill could drop temperatures to -20
Not living in the north? Helaas, you won’t be spared this winter’s deep freeze.
The KNMI reports that wind chill could drop temperatures to an icy -10 degrees Celsius this evening — and it’s only getting colder from there.
READ MORE | Slippery roads, heavy rain, and wind chill up to -20 as Storm Goretti approaches the Netherlands
Saturday evening will see the wind chill drop temperatures even further, and there’s a possibility of wind chills below -20 degrees in certain areas on Monday.
How are you faring with the Netherlands’ blast of unexpectedly icy weather? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
