An orange weather alert is in effect across Luxembourg as heavy rainfall and rising river levels lead to flooding, road closures, and warnings of potential damage in flood-prone areas.
Meteolux has issued an orange weather alert for the entire country, effective until Friday, as heavy rainfall and flooding continue to disrupt daily life. Several roads and car parks are already submerged, and water levels in multiple rivers have exceeded the "orange vigilance threshold."
The orange alert, which began at midnight on Thursday, follows a yellow alert issued on Wednesday due to snowfall that caused chaos on Luxembourg's roads and at Findel Airport. The orange alert will remain in place until 6pm on Friday for the North and until 6pm on Sunday for the Moselle region but has been lifted for the South of the country. Meteolux warns that minor flooding could escalate, particularly in flood-prone areas, potentially leading to localised damage.
On Thursday afternoon, authorities reported that the Deich car park in Ettelbruck is closed due to flooding. Police urged vehicle owners to remove their cars immediately. Similar warnings were issued for motorists parked along the N10 in Schengen and Remich, as well as in the port car park in Remich.
By mid-afternoon, police advised drivers to avoid several flooded roads, including:
- The N8 between Süll and Bruch
- The embankment car park in Ettelbruck
- The CR338 between Lieler and the Belgian border
- The CR345 between Ettelbruck and the border
- The CR158 between Roeser and the roundabout toward Kockelscheuer
Additional roads were flagged as hazardous due to falling trees:
- The CR309 between Arsdorf and Misärshaff
- The N7/Bamerdall between Friedhof and Diekirch
- The CR306 between Greiveldange and Grosbous
- The N28 between Canach and Oetrange
- The N11 between Gonderange and Waldhof
The adverse weather has also impacted waste collection services. SIDEC, the intercommunal syndicate responsible for waste management in northern Luxembourg, announced the cancellation of rubbish collections in Troisvierges, Weiswampach, and Rambrouch on Thursday. These collections have been rescheduled for Friday.
Red alert threshold exceeded on the Alzette, in Mersch, and in Ettelbruck?
Heavy rainfall and late snowmelt have caused water levels in Luxembourg's rivers and streams to rise rapidly, according to the flood monitoring website inondations.lu.
The site warned that the orange alert threshold would be exceeded on the Alzette, Attert, and Eisch rivers during the night of Thursday to Friday. Elevated water levels are also expected on the Syre.
The Alzette is particularly at risk of exceeding the red alert threshold at the Mersch and Ettelbruck monitoring stations.
© Météolux
By 9am on Thursday morning, the Water Management Authority confirmed that the orange alert threshold had already been surpassed in Mersch and Ettelbruck, with the Alzette in Ettelbruck nearing the red alert level. The Attert River in Bissen has also exceeded the orange alert threshold. Water levels in the Alzette catchment area are expected to peak by midday or evening.
In northern Luxembourg, the orange alert threshold has been exceeded in Diekirch, though the red alert level is not anticipated. In Bollendorf, the orange alert threshold is expected to be surpassed by midday, with the possibility of reaching the red alert level later in the day. Meanwhile, water levels in Bigonville are predicted to fall just below the orange alert threshold.
The Moselle River was finally placed under orange alert around 6pm on Friday, after spending most of the day at the yellow level. Authorities warn that the water levels on the Moselle will likely keep rising until Saturday morning, but the exact level cannot be predicted as of now.
