Cold wave
A cold wave is a continuous period of at least five days during which maximum temperatures remain below zero and minimum temperatures on at least three of these days are lower than -10 degrees (= severe frost).
What can you do ?
BEFORE
- Before winter sets in, check that your heating appliances still work properly.
- Check the insulation of your pipes: the cold can damage them and cause your heating system to stop working.
- Check your car. For example, fit winter tyres.
- Keep a blanket, scraper and bottle of water in your car.
DURING
- Stay indoors as much as possible.
- Listen to weather forecasts and follow road safety recommendations or warnings.
- Report any icy conditions via the RMI app (French/Dutch only) That way, the gritting services can intervene more quickly.
Inside the home:
- Set the thermostat to a minimum room temperature that remains comfortable. Avoid excessive temperatures.
- Ventilate your home for 10 minutes every day.
- Close the doors of rooms you don't use or rarely use.
- Don't forget about your pets. Leave them indoors or make sure they have plenty of food and drinking water.
- Beware of CO poisoning. Do you use a fireplace, a coal, oil or pellet stove, or a gas water heater? Do you heat your home with gas or oil? Take the necessary precautions.
Do you have to go out?
- Put on several layers of clothing and cover your whole body. Wear a hat, for example. If you go out without a head covering, you lose 30% of your body heat.
- Be vigilant when travelling about
- Are you taking the car?
- Watch your speed. Be very careful on bends.
- Read the winter tips for motorists from the Flemish Foundation for Traffic Knowledge (Dutch only) (Vlaamse Stichting Verkeerskunde)
- Take a blanket, hot drinks or water with you, in case you get stuck in a traffic jam.
- Will you take the bike?
- Watch your speed and keep your distance. That means you have to brake less often.
- Read the winter tips for cyclists from the GRACQ.
AFTER
Be careful when the ice thaws: frozen pipes can be damaged and leak.
Impact and probability
The figures relating to probability and impact describe a considerable cold spell. The BNRA theoretically describes such a scenario as follows:
- The cold spell affects 5 to 10 provinces over a period of 7 to 14 days.
- Minimum temperatures fall below -10°C for 3 to 7 days, including at least two days with temperatures below -15°C.
- The wind speed makes temperatures feel colder. For at least half of the cold spell, wind speeds remain below 20 km/h.
How should you interpret these results?
Within the BNRA, experts assessed three scenarios for each risk: considerable, major or extreme. On each page, you will find the results of the scenario with the highest score based on the combination of likelihood and impact. This does not mean that this scenario will occur or is the most likely. Read more here about how to correctly interpret the results.
Probability
Weak
Human impact
Weak
Societal impact
Weak
Environmental impact
Very weak
Financial impact
Very weak
What do the authorities do?
The RMI closely monitors the weather situation and issues warnings of (expected) cold spells. These alerts are communicated by colour codes. Based on these colour codes, local or regional authorities can take various measures, such as:
- setting up winter shelters for the homeless;
- implementing gritting plans to clear roads of snow and ice.
Find out more here.