A Code Yellow weather warning for storm conditions is in force across the country. Western areas of Flanders are the hardest hit by the storm conditions with gusts of wind reaching 90km/h. As much of 40 litres of rain per m² could fall in just 24 hours with rainfall of as much as 50l/m² falling at some locations in East and West Flanders.
Katrien De Smet of the Flemish Environment Agency says that despite the high levels of rainfall, the risk of flooding remains limited.
"Water levels in navigable waterways is rising and this will continue tomorrow. A combination of the rain and snow that has melted will mean that some waterway could breach their banks across Flanders. However, this will be absorbed by storm defence drains".
"It can’t be ruled out though that water could flood individual homes due to sewers being blocked by, for example, leaves. But we do not expect whole areas to be flooded".
Fallen tree blocks part of E40 motorway at Affligem
Two lanes of the Brussels-bound carriageway of the E40 motorway at Affligem in Flemish Brabant were blocked by a fallen tree on Friday morning. This caused big tailbacks for traffic heading into the capital from the west. At around 8.30am motorists driving to Brussels on the E40 from East and West Flanders faced delays of around 1h 30m.
Elsewhere, a fallen tree blocked two lanes of the E19 motorway at Zemst. By around 8.30 the tree had been clear and traffic flow had returned to normal..
In the West Flemish village of Wijtschate an electrical cable has fallen onto the road. The fallen cable has caused the closure of the Rijselstraat between the Sint-Elooi roundabout and the junction with Houthemstraat. Engineers from the electricity grid management company are working to repair the cable and restore power.
In Zonnebekestraat in Langemark-Poelkapelle (West Flanders), a large tree has fallen across the road. The Fire Service is working to clear the road.
On Friday evening and overnight, the sky will remain very cloudy with rain/snowfall that at times will be heavy, especially in the south and east of the country. Snowfall is expected south of the Rivers Sambre and Meuse.