With high winds forecast for Tuesday evening some city and municipal authorities have decided to cancel their New Year’s fireworks displays on safety grounds. The Limburg town of Lommel and the West Flemish coastal municipality of De Panne were the first Flemish local authorities to announce that their fireworks displays would be cancelled. The display in Lommel was due to take place this evening, the display in De Panne on New Year’s Day.
The VRT’s weatherwoman Jacotte Brokken warns that “You should definitely watch out for the wind if you are planning to do something with fireworks”.
Those planning to set off fireworks need to follow the weather forecast and be particularly careful as like last year, this New Year’s Eve will be windy. Gust of wind reaching speeds of up to 70 km/h are forecast, particularly in coastal areas. New Year’s Day too will see gusts of high wind.
No fireworks in Lommel or De Panne
In Limburg Province, Lommel Town Council has announced that it will be postponing its end of year fireworks display until Saturday. Meanwhile, the coastal municipality of De Panne is cancelling its display that had been planned for New Year’s Day.
The Mayor of De Panne Wim Janssens (local list) told VRT News that "It is logical that we have decided to cancel the fireworks and the performances on the Christmas market. That is the procedure is winds more than 5 Beaufort are forecast.
Other towns and municipalities will decide during the course of the day whether or not their firework displays will go ahead.