Storm Austen will reach Belgium on Friday, October 23, with strong winds expected particularly in the afternoon and evening. On the coast, wind gusts could reach storm force (9 to 10 Beaufort), with speeds up to 80 to 100 km/h, possibly higher at the coast. The warning is in effect from Friday afternoon until Saturday morning, October 24.
In Bruges, the warning has been escalated to code orange for the entire municipality. This means that parks, forests, and nature reserves will be closed for safety reasons. In Zeebrugge, the Saint George's Day walk will also be inaccessible during this period.
For storm-related damage or inconvenience without immediate danger, contact the fire department at 1722 or report the damage via www.1722.be. In case of life-threatening situations or urgent assistance, call 112.
The KMI advises everyone to be cautious and to closely follow the weather forecasts and warnings on their website: www.meteo.be.
