Winter is finally here, and with it, a 90 percent chance of snow on Tuesday, January 22, according to the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI). Whilst the snow may look magical, those travelling abroad, or even just to work can expect delays and cancellations.

Snowy conditions = travel trouble

Snow is expected on Tuesday, January 22, from 8am in the southwest of the country. It will continue to snow throughout the midday in the east and north of the Netherlands. A blanket of snow will cover everything in 2cm to 3cm of the white fluffy stuff. In some places, it could even be 4cm to 5cm thick.

An extremely busy morning and evening rush hour are expected due to the weather, which could cause delays. Flights may also be cancelled to and from Amsterdam, so if you are travelling, keep an eye on your flight’s status. Those commuting in the Netherlands should also keep an eye on the NS trains schedule, as this may be changed later.

Is the snow here to stay?

Probably not. It seems as though there is a possibility of snow on Wednesday, January 23. However, during the afternoon the temperature will increase to a few degrees above freezing point and thaw the ice, getting rid of the majority of the slipperiness on roads and paths. Do be careful Wednesday morning though, as temperatures of -1C to -4C are expected on Tuesday night, so places which have not been gritted, or where snow has fallen and frozen can be extremely slippery.

On Thursday, January 24, temperatures of around 0C to 3C are forecasted. From Friday, January 25, the weather will be slightly warmer, increasing to 5C during the weekend. This warmer weather will likely be short-lived, as temperatures appear to drop again after the weekend, with the possibility of wintry precipitation increasing, according to forecasts.