En forecast of the Ciara storm expected on Sunday in Belgium, the Interior SPF activated the number 1722, which can be reached for interventions requiring the help of firefighters. When a life is potentially in danger, the emergency number 112 remains applicable.
Number 1722 concerns major damage (such as a pierced roof, a cellar or a flooded public road, etc.) requiring the intervention of firefighters.
The Royal Meteorological Institute issued an orange wind alert for Sunday, with a high risk of damage all over the country. It will start at 10 a.m. and end Monday morning at 11 a.m.
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Wind strength will increase rapidly on Sunday and the MRI already forecasts gusts of 80 to 110 km / h in the afternoon and a risk of damage in places. In the evening and the following night, when an active cold front passes, gusts will increase further, with a danger of peaks between 110 and 130 km / h, or even more under a possible storm.
>> Our weather forecast region by region
The risk of damage will be high throughout the country, warns the Institute.
The wind will continue to blow strongly Monday during the day, but the most extreme gusts will disappear.
In the event of an orange code, the population is asked to be ready and to follow the advice given by the competent authorities.
Closed parks and forests
Several parks and forests will be closed on Sunday and Monday in Brussels and Wallonia in anticipation of the strong winds expected across Belgium.
In Brussels, forests and parks will be closed on Sunday and Monday. This measure may be extended to the day of Tuesday depending on the weather.
The Liège police area has also announced several measures. Parks and cemeteries will be closed from Sunday. Boulevard de l’Ourthe will be closed to traffic on Sunday.
In Namur, the City announced on Friday a press release prohibiting access to wooded areas and in particular the parks of Namur (Louise-Marie, Des Sources and La Plante), Jambes (Reine Astrid and Amée) and Bouge (rue du Parc) . The Citadel site will also be inaccessible, except via the Marvelous route for local service. The Namur cemetery will also be closed.
Impact on train traffic
The Ciara storm which will cross Belgium on Sunday could have an impact on train traffic, warned SNCB. The railway company may indeed have to moderate the speed of convoys on certain parts of the network due to the potentially violent storms accompanied by strong gusts which are predicted.
Train traffic could also be affected by obstacles on the tracks (branches or other objects that have taken off), anticipates SNCB, ensuring that everything will be done to limit these disturbances as much as possible.
The company cannot yet confirm when and where these measures will be in effect and invites travelers to consult its communication channels when planning their trips.
>> 10 tips to stay safe in a storm
Impact on Brussels Airport
Storm Ciara and the accompanying strong winds could have a limited impact on activities at Brussels Airport on Sunday evening, indicates the Brussels airport. When gusts exceed 111 km / h, it is no longer possible to use the boarding and disembarking gangways. Steps must therefore be taken, which delays operations and could therefore cause delays. According to current forecasts, this scenario should only occur between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Measures have already been taken at Brussels Airport for operations on the tarmac (loading, luggage, refueling, etc.), explains his spokesperson Nathalie Pierard. The equipment is protected and special attention is paid to objects that could fly away.
However, takeoffs and landings will not be disturbed because the west wind blows in the axis of the preferential runways used, it comes from the front for airplanes. Only impact: a larger space between landings.
Canceled soccer matches
All Jupiler Pro League and Proximus League games scheduled for Sunday have been postponed because of the passage of storm Ciara.
The Belgian Football Union therefore decided, in consultation with the IRM, to postpone all the matches, including the clash between Standard de Liège and Club Brugge. Two more D1B matches were scheduled for Sunday: Antwerp – Genk and Waasland-Beveren – Kortrijk. In D1B, the Westerlo – Lokeren match was on the program. The clash between Standard and Bruges will be played next Wednesday.
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