Belgium experienced the longest cold spell in 70 years

On the morning of February 13, the longest cold spell in over 70 years in Belgium has ended, after a snowfall has fallen. Usually when a cold wave ends, the temperature warms up, there is always snow.

According to a report by the Belgian Meteorological Agency, the cold spell with temperatures always below 0 ° C spent the 14th day in a row, as of February 12 in the Ukrainian district of Brussels.

Previously, in Belgium there was a prolonged cold spell in January 1977, continuously for 12 days, and a similar cold spell in January 1987. However, the record of prolonged freezing time in Belgium was established 71 years ago.

Heavy snowfall in Belgium

According to weather commentator of VTM TV channel, David Dehenauw, Belgium last time suffered a prolonged cold spell with temperatures not exceeding 0 ° C for about 13-14 days in January / 1941.

In addition, if the temperature of February is calculated, in the first 10 days of this month, Belgium has suffered the coldest phase since February 1917. The average temperature in the last 10 days was negative 2.6 ° C, compared with the average temperature of 2.7 ° C in 1917.

The Belgian Hydrometeorological Agency also said that from 12/2 noon the wind had turned to north and northwest. The sea breeze will bring showers and the temperature will increase slightly but still cold. Because of the changing weather, the traffic will be quite dangerous because the road will be very slippery due to being covered with a layer of ice.

According to Flandersnews, on February 13, all highways and small roads in most parts of Belgium were affected. On the Ostend Brussels motorway, there were a few accidents at Erpe-Mere (in East Flanders) that hindered the traffic into Brussels at the morning rush hour.

In the western part of Flander, some bus routes are stalled, while some routes have to be suspended. In particular, in Bruges - Belgium's famous tourist destination dubbed the 'Venice of the North' - the roads are warned to be extremely dangerous because of slippery.

The Roads Agency claims that all of their units are in ready condition. The service of spreading salt to melt snow has been done very actively at most of Belgium's major roads to keep the traffic, but many roads have to spray salt twice.

On the night of 12 and 3 February, at the Flanders roads alone, about 1,000 tons of salt were sprayed to prevent dangerous snow and ice. It is known that February 13 will end this cold wave because the temperature will rise to 4-5 ° C in the Flanders region, and the following days there will be cold winds from the north to bring rain and showers.