The IRM has broadened its alerts in the face of the significant risk of precipitation which will affect our country this Wednesday.
The Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI) is warning of continued rain carried by the Kirk Low between Wednesday morning and Thursday morning. Kirk will cause very heavy rainfall over the south-eastern half of Belgium.
In the province of Luxembourg, accumulations could reach 100 l/m2 in places in 24 hours, or locally more, which will place this province on the border between orange and red. “A move towards code red is therefore not excluded during the day, also taking into account the impact anticipated by regional and provincial authorities”announces the MRI again.
In the provinces of Namur and Liège, the accumulations will range from 50 to 80 l/m2, justifying an orange code, recalls the IRM. For comparison, during the terrible floods three years ago, rainfall was 160 mm on July 14, 2021 and 120 mm on July 15, 2021.
A code yellow warning is issued for the provinces of Hainaut and Limburg, as well as Flemish and Walloon Brabant, where cumulative precipitation will reach 25 to 50 l/m2 in 24 hours in enough places.
In the northwest, the rains will be more intermittent and will appear more in the form of showers.
The maxima will vary between 12 and 16 degrees with a wind which will become temporarily weak and variable in direction in many regions.
In Bouillon for example, it is not yet the flood. A light rain still falls on the roads, which makes them slippery at times.
Find out here live precipitation map.
“We’re going to watch, that’s all we can do”
For the moment, the level of the Semois is stable but the river, in pre-alert, is subject to special monitoring, explains Florent Vanden Bergh this morning, from Bouillon for bel RTL. Locally, up to 100 liters of water per square meter are expected in the province of Luxembourg.
Richard, scans the level of the Semois with a little worry, especially since the street in which he lives was already flooded last January: “The street was blocked, the ice cream parlor was flooded. I’m watching, I’m always looking at the water, I say to myself ‘well, it’s not moving, it’s not rising’. We’re going to follow the events, we’re going to monitor , that’s all we can do. Nature is nature. We won’t be able to do anything else.”.
What are the risks of flooding?
In total, around ten rivers – such as the Semois, the Vesdre or the Haute-Meuse – are in a state of pre-alert. This does not necessarily mean that they will overflow, but they are monitored and are subject to particular vigilance by the authorities.
The basins of the Amblève, the Vesdre, the Our, the Sure, the Lesse, the Ourthe (upstream), the Semois, the Chiers and the tributaries of the upper Meuse are placed in pre-alert as a preventive measure, announced Tuesday the Rain Expertise Unit of the Public Service of Wallonia (SPW).
The pre-alert thresholds should be crossed late Wednesday afternoon on certain rivers in the basins in the south-east of the country due to the Kirk depression. “Vigilance will be required on all watercourses located in the path of the depression and in particular in the Vesdre due to the construction sites present in the area”indicates the SPW. “What is necessary has already been done to warn these sites of the risks and take the necessary measures.”
Concerning the Gileppe, Eupen and Nisramont dams, the situation is “relatively comfortable at reserve level”. Same story for the dams in the west of the country, which are currently not on the trajectory of the depression.
The SPW also reminds that, given the context, activities near rivers are strongly discouraged (walking, kayaking, etc.).
Kirk showers weather
