Monday marks this winter's first so-called "ice day", when temperatures plummet down to freezing conditions. The Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI) has issued code yellow for slippery roads across the country, including Brussels.
Many employees will be returning to work while children will be back at school after a long break. But caution prevails on Monday, as on this ice day maximum temperatures range from 0°C at the sea to -5°C in the Eastern Cantons (Eupen Malmedy). The RMI issued a code yellow warning for icy roads from 07:00 in the morning until 14:00.
"Today it will be freezing everywhere. After the light precipitation of Sunday afternoon and the flooding at the beginning of last week, people should watch out for local ice patches, especially on secondary roads," the RMI noted on social media. "The ice patches can vary greatly from place to place."
The code yellow indicates that people travelling about on Monday should "be vigilant", especially pedestrians and cyclists. The first ice day also coincides with the end of the winter break, which means roads will be busier, adding to the risk.
In Brussels, the region's mobility agency warned that road surfaces may be slippery and asked people to be careful on the roadway and cycle paths, adding that the gritting service is already out on the roads.
Belgium hasn't had an ice day for two years. The current one is the result of colder air arriving in Belgium, meaning temperatures drop considerably, both at night and during the day. On Monday, local snow showers may provide a thin layer of snow.
Predictions for this week
Towards the evening, the first clearings should appear from the northeast, but winds remain moderate and strong from the northeast at the sea, adding to the cold feeling. By Monday night it will be clear everywhere and temperatures will drop between -3°C and -9°C.
Tuesday will be a sunny day, but will also be an ice day with maximum of -2°C in the heart of the country. On Wednesday too, the weather will be determined by cold, dry continental air, with sunny intervals. Maximum temperatures will then rise to +2°C in some places.
Thursday will be another sunny day, and after a cold night, the temperatures are expected to climb to values between 0 and +3°C. Friday will remain mostly dry but cloudier. The cold will have eased slightly, with maximum temperatures between 0°C in the Ardennes and 5°C in the centre.
