National weather warnings over thick fog, Friesland car crash

Thick fog covered almost all of the Netherlands on Tuesday morning, cutting visibility to less than 20 metres in some places and causing long tailbacks and a head-on crash in Friesland.

The national weather service KNMI issued a code yellow warning for the whole country except Zeeland, the Wadden Islands, the IJsselmeer and Wadden Sea areas and parts of Limburg. The warning runs from 11.30pm on Monday until midday on Tuesday.

Around 6.50am, visibility in Flevoland had fallen below 20 metres, and 70 metres was recorded in Zuid-Holland, broadcaster NOS reported.

In Friesland, two cars collided on the N359 road between Koudum and Hemelum in dense fog, regional news site Omrop Fryslân reported. Ambulances were called to the scene in around 6.50am; how many were injured is not yet known.

The KNMI is advising drivers to slow down and leave more space. Front fog lights should go on when visibility is below 200 metres, and rear fog lights below 50 metres.

Fog may hang over the north all day and come back on Tuesday night. Rain is forecast for Wednesday morning’s rush hour in the centre and south.