The Pas-de-Calais region in northern France has been hoping for a dry day after battling heavy rain and persistent flooding since Tuesday. According to weather forecasts, Saturday is supposed to be dry though flood are ongoing.
On the Belgian side of the border, Flemish authorities reported non-critical flooding along non-navigable waterways on Saturday morning. The southwest region of Flanders remains on high alert. With no significant rainfall expected until Sunday afternoon, water levels are likely to remain stable or subside. The upper French course of the Yser river is receding.
Having been put under red alert because of heavy rains and floods by Meteo-France since Thursday, Pas-de-Calais was downgraded to yellow at 19:00 on Friday. This presents a brief respite for weary residents, who already had been battered by Storm Ciaran on 2 November, followed by record-breaking floods on Tuesday.
It's pretty bad. State of emergency was declared. And there is more coming. The rain that hits France, then makes its way through the North Sea via the Yser river which runs through Western Flanders. (Picture: Thijs Pattyn) pic.twitter.com/hwqUUdnzeF
— MDW (@DeWulfMarleen) November 10, 2023
The intense rainfall over the past few days has swollen the Aa, Liane and Canche rivers, which remain under a red flood alert by Vigicrues. A bulletin released by the regional monitoring agency on Saturday morning reported a slight decline in water levels in the Nord and Pas-de-Calais upstream areas. This will gradually move towards the downstream sectors. A flood peak for the Aa river is expected in the Saint-Omer area in the afternoon.
Problems in West Flanders
The governor of West Flanders has activated the provincial crisis management plan due to a flooding risk. The decision came in anticipation of substantial rainfall predicted by the Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI) from Thursday night into Friday.
Residents within the municipalities of Lo-Reninge, Alveringem, Poperinge and Vleteren have been alerted through the BE-Alert system. Locals have been advised to minimise travel, secure their vehicles (recommending against using garages), protect entrances leading to the ground floors and basements, and finally, disconnect their gas, water and electricity supplies.
Flooding in Noordschote, after days of heavy rain in the West Flanders province, Friday 10 November 2023. Credit: Belga / Kurt Desplenter
Weather forecasts for Belgium on Saturday predict a predominantly calm and dry day with a few isolated showers in the afternoon. Temperatures will fall, ranging between 5°C in the high Ardennes to 10°C in the country’s west.
Regions in the southwest of the country are set to experience completely dry weather in the afternoon. Saturday night should bring dry weather with minimum temperatures between 0 and 4°C. Rainfall on Sunday is anticipated to hold off until later in the day, with maximum temperatures expected to vary between 5°C in Haute Fagnes and 9 to 10°C on lower ground.
