The Met Office has issued a code yellow weather warning for this afternoon valid for the entire country due to the prospect of strong winds and gusty conditions. Between noon and 3 pm, showers will cross the country with gusts of 80 to 100 km/h possible. Locally, this could be even more, the Met Office warns.
Originally the yellow code warning only applied to the coast and the Ardennes, but last night the Met Office extended the warning to the rest of the country. Between 12 pm and 6 pm, the alert applies everywhere in Belgium.
This morning David Dehenauw, head of Met Office weather forecasts, said that we should pay attention especially between noon and 3 pm, because that is when a powerful line of showers will pass across the country with heavy wind gusts.
These could reach speeds of 80 to 100 kilometres per hour and locally even more, which could cause damage.
In the Brussels region, parks and forests are closed due to the storm. The Sonian Forest and Ter Kameren Wood will be closed from 11am. The environment department recommends staying away from trees.
Code yellow for rain in the south
The provinces of Namur and Luxembourg are also covered by a yellow code warning valid from 8pm yesterday evening until 7pm tonight due to the prospect of heavy rain.
Between 25 and locally 35 mm of rainfall is expected, says the Met Office. Total precipitation over 2 days could reach as much as 50 to 70 mm.
These could reach speeds of 80 to 100 kilometres per hour and very locally even more, which could cause damage.