KNMI issues code orange for severe thunderstorms in four Dutch provinces

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11 months · 10 summary articles
The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) has issued a code orange weather warning for severe thunderstorms across four Dutch provinces this evening, as meteorologists warn of potentially dangerous conditions including heavy rainfall, hail, and strong wind gusts. The alert, effective from 20:00 local time on Saturday, 27 June 2026, covers Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Gelderland, and Overijssel—the same regions already under a code red heat warning .
Meteorologist Floris Lafeber of Weerplaza told *NU.nl* that all the necessary ingredients for extreme weather are present. "The atmosphere is highly unstable, with warm, moist air colliding with cooler fronts," he explained. "This creates the perfect conditions for severe thunderstorms, possibly even supercells capable of producing large hail or localized tornadoes." The KNMI has not ruled out upgrading the warning to code red if conditions intensify .
Emergency services are already reporting a surge in calls, with 112 receiving nearly double the usual number of reports due to the preceding heatwave. In West Flanders, Belgium, severe storms have already caused disruptions, prompting the Royal Meteorological Institute (KMI) to issue a nationwide yellow alert for thunderstorms until Sunday morning .
The storms have already struck a high-profile event: lightning struck near the main stage at Concert at Sea in Zeeland, forcing organizers to halt performances temporarily. No injuries have been reported, but the incident underscores the severity of the weather .
Authorities are urging residents in the affected provinces to secure loose objects, avoid travel if possible, and stay indoors during peak storm activity. The KNMI will monitor conditions closely and may issue further updates as the evening progresses. With temperatures still reaching up to 39°C locally in some areas, the combination of heat and violent storms poses an unprecedented challenge for emergency services .
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