Thunderstorms and torrential rain moved from northern France across western
Belgium into the west of the Netherlands on Sunday night and this morning
leading to very high rainfall totals and widespread problems from flooding.

Belgium

Worst hit area was West Flanders, especially the area around Roeselare.
Many houses and other buildings in Roeselare were flooded including the
hospital. Water was up to waist deep in the town centre. Nearby towns
and villages of Torhout, Lichtervelde, Ingelmunster and Izegem were also
under water. Several dozen people had to be evacuated in Lichtervelde and
Ingelmunster.

Second badly affected area was to the SW around Ieper (Ypres). Several
dozen people had to be evacuated in Vlamertinge near Ieper which was under 1
m of water. There was flooding also in Poperinge, Wervik and parts of
Kortrijk, and in places in East Flanders around Oudenaarde and Ronse.

Map showing rainfall totals in 24 hours to 18z on Monday at amateur sites in
Belgium and the Netherlands
http://www.weerwoord.be/includes/for...216&tid=301216

Some totals at amateur sites in Belgium

Ertvelde (north of Ghent) 66 mm
Sleidinge (north of Ghent) 69 mm
Wortegem-Petegem (east of Kortrijk) 72.4 mm
Zomergem near Bruges 110 mm
Brugge (Bruges) 110.5 mm
Hooglede (just NW of Roeselare) 124.6 mm - including 51.3 mm between 01.00
and 02.15 local time.
Lichtervelde (just N of Roeselare) 133 mm - including 60 mm between 01.00
and 02.10 local time.

Official sites in Belgium - Semmerzake near Ghent 57 mm, Koksijde 62 mm,
Ostend Airport 66 mm.


France

Report in French with small photo on the website of France 2 TV
http://info.france2.fr/france/12073870-fr.php

Areas worst affected were around Lille and in French Flanders around
Hazebrouck. Parts of Hazebrouck were flooded up to a depth of up to 1.5
- 30 people had to be evacuated.

4 campsites (some 200 campers) in Pas-de-Calais department were also
evacuated.
People had to leave their cars in a hurry when the Lille-Roubaix road became
flooded up to 1.5 m deep in the middle of the morning rush hour.

Motorways around Lille were blocked by traffic jams up to 20 to 25 km long.
Some train services stopped because the tracks were flooded.

Météo France measured 102 mm rain at Arras at 09.00 local time and 123 mm at
Fiefs in the Pas-de-Calais.

Official sites - Rouen 45 mm, Abbeville 52 mm, Lille Airport 81 mm -
in 24 hours to 18z on Monday.

Netherlands

Streets and houses were flooded in the province of Zeeland in the SW of the
country - Biervliet recorded 80 mm rain.
At Amsterdam Schiphol only 40 planes per hour could land instead of the
usual 70 this morning.

KNMI site totals in 24 hours to 18z - Hoek van Holland 50 mm, Rotterdam
Airport 51 mm, Amsterdam Schiphol 56 mm, Vlissingen 82 mm.

Colin Youngs
Brussels





http://info.france2.fr/france/12073870-fr.php