More than 100 flights grounded as fierce winds hit the Netherlands

The Hague, Dec 6 (NationPress) Intense wind gusts have led to significant disturbances across the Netherlands on Friday, resulting in more than 100 flights being grounded at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Additionally, railways, road traffic, and waterways were affected.

The Dutch national weather agency KNMI issued a code yellow weather alert for nearly the entire nation, impacting 10 out of the 12 provinces, with only North Brabant and Limburg in the south remaining under code green.

Reports indicated wind gusts ranging from 75 to 90 km/h, with coastal regions experiencing even stronger gusts of 90 to 100 km/h. On the northern Wadden Islands, wind speeds could reach as high as 100 to 120 km/h, according to reports from Xinhua news agency.

Passengers at Schiphol were advised to expect cancellations and delays. As of Friday morning, more than 100 flights had already been cancelled.

The storm also caused disruptions to train services, with trees and branches blown onto the tracks in multiple locations.

Road traffic faced considerable obstacles; for example, the Markerwaard dike near Flevoland was closed due to the strong winds, and the A15 motorway towards Nijmegen was shut down following a truck accident.

Moreover, elevated water levels combined with severe winds led to the temporary closure of the Ramspol storm surge barrier near Kampen in Overijssel province, halting shipping activities. This closure was a precautionary measure to avert flooding in adjacent areas, including the city of Zwolle.