An active rain zone is passing over Belgium on Tuesday, bringing heavy showers which could result in flooding. The emergency number 1722 has been activated.
The Royal Meteorological (RMI) has issued a weather warning from 06:00 Tuesday morning until 08:00 Thursday as a "new and very active rain zone is passing over the country" from west to east. It noted this will be followed by numerous showers.
"Over the entire rain episode from yesterday evening to Thursday, rainfall could exceed 100 mm in the south of the province of Luxembourg," the RMI noted. A code orange warning was issued here.
Elsewhere in the Ardennes, between 50 and 100 mm of rain is expected to fall. Code yellow was first issued for all of Wallonia, and later also in Limburg and Flemish Brabant. In many places south of Sambre and Meuse and the centre of the country, rainfall amounts can reach more than 25 litres per square metre in 24 hours.
Municipal workers fill sandbags to prepare for floods, during heavy rainfall in Ninove, 20km west of Brussels. Credit: Belga / Jonas Roosens
Flooding possible in Brussels
In the rest of the country, total precipitation amounts will likely fluctuate between 30 and 60 mm. However, this means that flooding cannot be ruled out in Flanders or Brussels either, VRT NWS reported. Especially in the Dender and Upper Scheldt basins, the heavy rain could cause problems in the afternoon.
The RMI noted that for the province of West Flanders precipitation should be closely monitored given the situation in northern France. Here, code orange has been declared in three departments, including the two northernmost departments on the border with Belgium. In November, the effects of heavy rain here were also felt in West Flanders.
"This situation is being closely monitored," RMI said. "The warning may be extended to other provinces and/or prolonged."
Across the country, but especially in north and west Flanders, rain will also be accompanied by strong winds, with gusts of up to 80 km/h and even 95 km/h at sea. The RMI issued a code yellow warning for strong gusts at the coast and West Flanders until Wednesday morning.
Train services between Brussels-Midi and Halle are disrupted due to local flooding on Tuesday afternoon, according to Belgium’s national railway company SNCB.
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The 1722 number for non-emergency fire brigade calls was already activated on Monday. It aims to prevent emergency numbers from being overwhelmed by calls for assistance that can wait.
In the event of storm damage or water damage requiring fire brigade assistance, this number should be dialled. If a life is in danger, people are advised to call 112.
