Hurricane Henk wreaks havoc in northern Netherlands with 68mph winds
Hurricane Henk, also known as the "cyclone bomb," initially hit the British Isles before causing chaos in the Netherlands. It caused significant damage and disruption in northern Netherlands overnight.
10:58 AM EST, January 3, 2024
Both roads and air traffic felt the impacts of this severe weather event. The hurricane led to fallen trees, damaged homes, and widespread flooding.
The Dutch meteorological institute (KNMI) had issued an orange hazard code for the northern region of the country on Tuesday. This warned residents of likely extreme weather conditions. Amsterdam's fire brigade advised residents to stay in their homes and avoid unnecessary travel.
Hurricane aftermath reveals extensive damage
Media reports outline that Hurricane Henk wrought considerable damage, particularly in the northern provinces of the Netherlands. Wind gusts of up to 68 miles per hour were recorded, with one such gust causing a circus tent in Leeuwarden to be completely blown away, according to local news portal Omrop Fryslan.
Fallen trees, uprooted by the strong wind, disrupted rail traffic between Utrecht and Tiel in the central part of the country. This led to fewer trains running between the central station in Rotterdam and Breda in the south. Amsterdam news outlet AT5 reported that the high winds even tore the roof off a houseboat on one of the city's canals.
Air traffic was also affected by the hurricane. Schiphol Airport management cancelled several flights due to the strong winds, reporting landing challenges for numerous aircraft. However, no major problems attributed to these strong winds were reported.
