Belgium has faced severe weather disruptions on Monday, with winds of up to 95 km/h. Parks and other green spaces in Brussels are closed for safety reasons.
The Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI) issued a yellow weather warning for the entire country on Monday, coming into effect between 12:00 and 18:00, due to strong gusts of wind. Throughout Belgium, people have been advised to avoid driving or walking near trees.
With gusts of wind of 80 to 95 km/h (and even more locally), parks, nature reserves and woods of Brussels, including the Sonian Forest, are closed from 11:00 to 18:00 on Monday, Brussels Environment announced.
The Interior Ministry has activated the temporary number 1722 for non-emergency assistance from the fire services to reduce the burden on emergency services.
Broken branches and roof tiles
The Fire Brigade has been dispatched throughout the capital on Monday to address incidents caused by the wind. Around 16:30, eight interventions were in progress while 33 were yet to be addressed, according to the fire brigade's spokesperson, Walter Derieuw.
Trees in Anderlecht. Credit: Fire Brigade.
Moreover, as of 16:30, 30 interventions involved broken branches and uprooted trees, while 34 involved objects such as roof tiles, panels and cables.
Credit: Fire Brigade.
Dry start to the day
The weather will be temporarily drier at the start of the day, though it will remain rainy in the higher parts of Belgium.
In the afternoon, rains or showers will arrive from the west. Maximum temperatures will range between 7°C and 12°C. There will be localised gusts of wind reaching 80 to 90 km/h in the afternoon, according to the morning forecast from the Royal Meteorological Institute.
In the morning, cloud cover will vary from partial to abundant in southern and central Belgium, with generally dry conditions except for a few local showers. In the higher parts of Belgium will continue to experience significant cloudiness with periods of rain or showers.
At around midday, a band of precipitation will reach the west and then extend to other regions in the afternoon. After this, there will be some localised clear spells with the possibility of further showers.
Maximum temperatures will be reached around noon, ranging from 7°C in the High Ardennes to 11°C or 12°C in central regions. In the afternoon, temperatures will cool, eventually dropping to about 7°C in central regions by the end of the day.
