Alzette flooding in Luxembourg City, 7 January 2025;
Credit: Ali Sahib, Chronicle.lu
On Wednesday 8 January 2025, the Water Management Authority (AGE), the National Roads Administration, the High Commission for National Protection (HCPN), MeteoLux and the Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (CGDIS) issued a weather warning in relation to local flooding along the Alzette and Sûre rivers.
Shortly after 13:00 on Wednesday, the authorities reported that the severe weather risk assessment unit (CERI) had met at noon to take stock of the flood situation. This was in view of the precipitation expected on Wednesday afternoon in the form of snow, which will then turn into rain, with accumulations of up to 30l/m2.
The entire country (with the exception of the Moselle) has been placed on orange flood alert. The precipitation expected in the coming hours will cause levels to rise from Wednesday evening and they will continue to rise until Thursday afternoon.
On the Alzette, the orange alert level is expected to be exceeded around midnight. Water levels in the regions along the Alzette, and particularly in Hesperange, Luxembourg-Pfaffenthal, Steinsel, Mersch and Ettelbruck, may reach or even exceed the red alert level at certain measuring stations in the early hours of Thursday 9 January 2025. Further developments during the night remained uncertain at the time of writing.
On the Sûre, the orange alert level is expected to be exceeded at the measuring stations in Diekirch and Bollendorf from the early hours of Thursday.
The level of the Moselle will also rise from Wednesday evening. During the day on Thursday, the Moselle will be placed on yellow flood alert. However, it is unlikely that the orange alert level will be reached, according to the authorities.
They noted that the CERI is continuing to monitor the development of the situation.
The authorities warned the public to avoid any travel in the regions concerned and to respect the closed roads and diversions in place. Updates on flood warnings and water level developments are available online at www.inondations.lu and updated weather warnings can be consulted at www.meteolux.lu.
At the time of writing, a yellow warning for snow is in place in northern Luxembourg on Wednesday, from 15:00 to 20:00. A nationwide orange flood alert is in place from 13:00 on Wednesday until 07:00 on Friday 10 January 2025.
Update: MeteoLux later added a yellow warning for snow for southern Luxembourg on Wednesday afternoon/evening.
