Heavy rain is expected in various parts of Belgium, with a code yellow for the south of the country, and the provincial emergency plan being declared in the northwest of Belgium.
The Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI) issued a code yellow warning which came into force on Thursday morning at 06:00 and will remain in place until 14:00.
"In the province of Luxembourg, total precipitation could reach 20 to 40 mm (or l/m2) in 24 hours in at least a quarter of the province, and especially in the southern half," the RMI noted on its website.
It added that, as of 09:30 in the morning, the warning criteria have not been met in West Flanders, despite local problems in de Westhoek, which has been experiencing flooding since Monday. This region comprises the West Flemish areas of Diksmuide, Ypres, and Veurne including the cities of Veurne, Poperinge, Wervik, Ypres, De Panne, Langemark-Poelkapelle, Diksmuide and Koekelare.
Preventive measures
By consensus, the weather models of the RMI indicate that de Westhoek will still have a lot of rain to endure. Due to this predicted heavy rainfall, the governor of West Flanders declared the provincial emergency plan and a BE-Alert was sent out to warn residents of Lo-Reninge, Alveringem, Poperinge and Vleteren.
"We expect heavy precipitation during the night from Thursday to Friday, which could lead to flooding in the IJzer basin," the Westhoek fire brigade noted on its website.
The fire brigade also advises residents to limit movements, park cars in a safe place (not in the garage), protect cellar and door openings and shut off gas, electricity and water. "Need to transport yourself anyway? Adjust your driving behaviour, ensure adequate visibility if you go on foot or by bike, and check public transport timetables through official channels."
The fire brigade has been helping out in places already affected by floods. Credit: Westhoek Fire Brigade
Earlier in the week, part of Watou was already flooded and the local fire brigade was also carrying out preventive pumping of the basin to try to keep the water level of the IJzer under control. In Roesbrugge, the fire brigade even built a preventive dam with sandbags.
Residents here have been advised to call 1722 in case of flooding that requires help from the fire brigade or non-life-threatening situations related to the floods. They have also been called on to make sure loose objects in the garden cannot be carried away by water and to help neighbours take the same precautions.
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These floods in West Flanders have partly been caused by even higher precipitation amounts over northern France in recent days, injuring several people. In particular, water levels in the Aa and Liane rivers in the Pas-de-Calais department, near the department of Le Nord, not far from the Belgian border, suddenly started rising dramatically after heavy rain on Monday evening.
French weather service Météo France again declared code red for the Pas-de-Calais department. Some of that water will likely flow to the Westhoek via the IJzer basin, which is why precautions have been taken.
