Netherlands Under Code Orange for Severe Thunderstorms

The Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) has issued a nationwide Code Orange warning for severe thunderstorms across the entire country. Initially, the alert was limited to the provinces of Limburg, North Brabant, Gelderland, and Overijssel in the southeast. However, the warning was expanded Saturday evening to encompass all of the Netherlands.

Residents can expect significant weather phenomena associated with these thunderstorms. The KNMI forecasts the possibility of large hailstones, measuring between 2 to 5 centimeters in diameter. Additionally, strong wind gusts are anticipated, potentially reaching speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour. Heavy rainfall is also expected, with accumulations possibly reaching up to 40 millimeters.

The severe weather follows a period of intense heat. Earlier on Saturday, Code Red was in effect for the same four southeastern provinces due to high temperatures, ending at 9:00 PM. Even after the heat warning expired, Code Orange remained in effect for Limburg due to the high temperatures, while the rest of the country was under a Code Yellow advisory for heat.

A live blog also noted over one hundred deaths in Paris within a 24-hour period attributed to the heatwave, though this information is not directly linked to the Dutch weather situation beyond the shared context of extreme temperatures.