The Netherlands is in for a spell of wintry weather as snow and sleet move over the country. The northern coast may also have some thunder and lightning, the KNMI weather bureau said.

The agency has issued a code yellow weather warning for the entire country on Monday morning, saying the roads are likely to be slippery and that several centimetres of snow may fall in the east.

By 8.30 am, the ANWB motoring organisation said it had reports of traffic jams totalling 970 kilometres and that sleet and ice were causing problems on the roads nationwide.

The snow is likely to stick inland where the temperature will drop to around freezing point, but in coastal regions it will be several degrees above, the KNMI said. It will also be windy on the coast.

The situation is similar on Tuesday but there may be some sunny spells mixed in with the wintry showers.  Wintry showers are likely for the rest of the week and there will be moderate frosts overnight, the KNMI said.

After next weekend it will turn warmer and there is an 80% chance of temperatures above the seasonal norm toward the end of the month.