Parts of the Netherlands are being warned to brace themselves for up to two weeks’ worth of rain in the next 24 hours, bringing an abrupt end to the summer drought.

Weerplaza forecasts extended periods of rain over the whole country from Tuesday evening until Wednesday, with between 30mm and 50mm of rain possible in southern areas.

The wet conditions are likely to cause heavier than normal traffic in the Wednesday morning rush-hour before the clouds will clear from the north-west in the afternoon. Temperatures are expected to drop from the low twenties to between 16 and 18 degrees.

‘It’s hard to say exactly where the heaviest rain will fall. The regional differences could be quite large,’ said Weerplaza meteorologist Wilfried Janssen.