Weather warnings were issued for strong winds and heavy rain across Belgium today as Storm Benjamin hits the country.
Winds are expected to reach speeds of 70 to 100 km/h inland and 100 to 120 km/h at sea, according to the Royal Meteorological Institute (RIM).
The warnings for heavy rain are expected to be in place throughout the day. A period of significant precipitation is forecasted for this afternoon.
On Thursday morning, a high tide warning was issued by RIM in the provinces of Antwerp and East Flanders, from around 5.00pm until Friday morning.
While the storm is “unlikely to be exceptional”, it could be the most intense storm since Storm Ciarán in 2023, where winds reached 112 km/h in Zeebrugge, according to RIM's meteorologist, Pascal Mormal.
Closed parks & cemeteries
Several areas in the capital will be closed today as a safety precaution. Last July, a Brussels storm caused the death of a baby after a branch fell in a park in Uccle.
From 10.00am, all green spaces managed by Brussels Environment, as well as all parks and cemeteries in the city of Brussels, will be closed. They will likely reopen on Friday morning after a safety check, provided no new weather warnings are issued.
Additionally, Bois de la Cambre and the Drève de Lorraine will be closed from 10.00am until at least Friday at 6.00am, according to the regional mobility service, Brussels Mobility.
Brussels transport disruptions
The Brussels metro, tram, and bus operator, STIB-MIVB, is closely following the situation, according to spokesperson Laurent Vermeersch.
Bus line 41 was diverted on Thursday as its normal route drives through the park Bois de la Cambre, which is set to be closed until Friday morning.
Shortly before 3.00pm, Vermeersch told The Brussels Times that tram line 39 was interrupted due to damage to the overhead wires caused by a fallen tree. Earlier in the day, tram line 44 was also interrupted due to the strong wind.
MIVB-STIB logo on a tram. Credit: Belga/Laurie Dieffembacq
Both tram line 39 and 44 are now partly replaced with buses (between Stockel and Ban-Eik and between Madoux and Tervuren respectively).
The STIB-MIVB has specialised teams on standby to intervene in the event of disruptions. In case of safety concerns, STIB-MIVB services may be interrupted, diverted or replaced with alternative transport
“The biggest risks are local floods, for example, when street sewers get blocked, and trees or branches falling on overhead wires on tram lines,” Vermeersch added.
Trains, flights & ferries
Trains ran by the national railway operator, SNCB, are expected to run as scheduled, although passengers are advised to regularly consult the SNCB website or app for the latest information, according to a spokesperson.
However, trains to and from the coast will travel at an adjusted speed as a precautionary measure, according to Le Soir citing the railway network manager, Infrabel.
Illustrative image of people by a train. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
In terms of flights, Brussels Airport warned that passengers may experience delays if strong winds impact ground handling operations.
Meanwhile, regarding ferry services, the Sint-Anna ferry in Antwerp is currently closed while the ferry between Bazel and Hemiksem is set to close from 3.00pm, a spokesperson for the maritime services and coastal agency confirmed to The Brussels Times.
Extra caution
Brussels Mobility's spokesperson, Inge Paemen has advised drivers in Brussels to drive with caution and avoid parking in areas with many trees.
"They must also be extra cautious of pedestrians and cyclists who may be thrown off balance by gusts of wind," she added.
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Storm Benjamin was named by France’s meteorological institute, Météo France, which decides on names in partnership with five other meteorological services, including Belgium’s IRM.
Storms are typically named when they cause a wind warning of at least level orange in one of the six countries, according to Météo France.
In Belgium, a storm officially refers to when wind reaches an average speed of at least 75 km/h over a period of 10 minutes and at a height of 10 m above a meteorological measuring station.
The article was updated at 14.43 pm with the latest information.
