The Royal Meteorological Institute (IRM) has extended its yellow warning for snow and ice across most of Belgium until Friday afternoon.
Initially set to expire in the early hours of Friday, the warning now remains in effect until 16:00 in Brussels and later in other areas, with Liège under alert until 20:00. However, the coastal regions, including West Flanders, are exempt from the warning.
The IRM cautioned that icy patches combined with showers could make roads dangerously slippery, posing risks for both motorists and pedestrians. Authorities have urged residents to exercise caution when traveling and to check weather updates regularly.
Severe Weather Causes Havoc in France
While Belgium grapples with icy conditions, neighboring France faces significant disruptions from Storm Caetano. Snow and ice have paralyzed road traffic, left thousands stranded, and cut power to hundreds of thousands of homes.
French Transport Minister François Durovray revealed that approximately 1,800 lorries are stuck on major highways, including the A28 in the northwest and the A36 in the northeast. Many truck drivers ignored restrictions on heavy goods vehicles, worsening the situation and blocking other traffic.
Power outages, affecting about 200,000 households, have primarily hit the regions of Normandy and Pays de la Loire. French Transition Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher assured the public that 90% of affected households would regain electricity by Saturday evening, with full restoration expected by Sunday.
Météo-France issued warnings across 29 departments, stretching from Normandy to Haut-Rhin, including the Paris region.
The agency highlighted a high risk of ice formation due to freezing temperatures, which has already caused dozens of traffic accidents, including a severe incident in Manche.
School transport remains suspended in several areas, and restrictions on lorries over 7.5 tonnes, including speed limits and overtaking bans, remain in place.
Train services are also disrupted, compounded by an ongoing strike at French railway operator SNCF. Fallen trees on tracks in Normandy, Pays de la Loire, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and the Paris region have added to delays, which are expected to persist through Friday.
Belgium to See Warmer Weekend
Belgium is expected to experience occasional wintry showers on Friday, with heavier precipitation in the north and snow in the Ardennes. Temperatures will range from 0°C in the upper Ardennes to 7°C along the coast, dropping overnight to between -4°C in the east and +1°C at the coast.
Winds will remain moderate to strong, with gusts up to 60 km/h in coastal areas.
However, the weekend promises relief, with rising temperatures and drier conditions. On Saturday, temperatures will range between 1°C and 7°C, while Sunday is forecast to be relatively dry, with highs between 13°C and 18°C, according to the IRM.
Residents are advised to remain cautious on Friday but can look forward to milder weather in the coming days.