The Netherlands may have experienced some particularly mild weather over the past couple of weeks, but all that is about to change: the Dutch Weather Institute (KNMI) has issued a code yellow warning as the country braces for thunderstorms and heavy winds. 

Thunderstorms heading to the Netherlands on Wednesday

You might have gotten used to the unseasonably warm weather that the Netherlands has seen so far this year, but don’t get too comfortable just yet, as the country is about to face its first storms of 2023. 

The KNMI has issued a code yellow weather warning for all 12 Dutch provinces, which comes into effect between 7pm and 9pm on Wednesday evening, and will remain in place until 11pm or midnight. 

Citizens and residents have been told to prepare for thunderstorms, which will move from west to east throughout the course of Wednesday night. The storms are expected to be accompanied by rain showers, hail, and winds of between 60 and 100 kilometres an hour. 

Heavy winds to continue into Thursday morning

For towns and cities across the western regions of the country, the weather warnings will continue into Thursday morning, with the KNMI stating that Zeeland, South Holland, North Holland, Friesland, and the Wadden Islands will see wind gusts of between 75 and 90 kilometres an hour between 6am and 10am on Thursday morning. 

The good news is that this should clear up on Friday, with forecasts predicting bursts of sunshine, occasional showers and temperatures of around 11 degrees in cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht and The Hague. Currently, the weekend forecast isn’t looking quite as positive, though, with heavy rain expected on Saturday and a drop in temperatures predicted on Sunday.

Thumb: Dennis van de Water via Shutterstock.com.