This Sunday was the hottest September 1 since measurements began in Belgium, with temperatures reaching 31.3°C recorded in Uccle, in the Brussels region, according to the Belgian Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI).
Shortly before 3:00 p.m., meteorologist David Dehenauw indicated that with 29.3°C measured, the 1906 record (29.2°C) had been broken in Uccle, where the MRI is installed.
A few hours later, the thermometer finally reached 31.3°C, beating the 1906 record by two degrees, Dehenauw pointed out.
Belgium has recently experienced episodes of heat, with temperatures reaching 34°C on 12 August.
According to experts, the increase in heat waves is a direct consequence of the climate crisis, with greenhouse gas emissions increasing their intensity, duration and frequency.
At the same time, Belgium continues to record high rainfall. Last July broke a record by becoming the tenth consecutive month to record above-average precipitation levels, according to the RMI. The previous absolute record dates back to 1905.
During the first 12 days of July 2024, a total of 87 millimetres of rain fell, compared to a normal (based on measurements between 1991 and 2020) of 33.5 mm.
