Very wet summer continues trend of above-average rainfall in winter and spring

Very wet summer continues trend of above-average rainfall in winter and spring
Brussels in heavy wind an rain, Tuesday 09 July 2024. Credit: Belga / Hatim Kaghat

For the sixth year running, Uccle experienced more rainfall than the average this summer, according to the season report from the Royal Meteorological Institute (IRM), released on Sunday.

This summer Uccle recorded 323mm of rainfall, exceeding the average of 234.2mm. This makes summer 2024 the fifth wettest summer in the current reference period of 1991 to 2020. The record was set in 2021 when Belgium was struck with severe floods and saw rainfall of 410.7mm.

The highest daily total of 41.8mm was recorded on 9 July. Across the country, regional average rainfall ranged from about 70% of the usual in the Côte to around 115% in Belgian Lorraine. The most substantial amount was seen in Hérinnes, with 64.8mm of rain on 31 July.

Summer 2024 also marked the sixth consecutive season with above-average precipitation. Only five such phenomena have been observed since records began in 1833.

And whilst summer in Uccle began with lower-than-average temperatures, it warmed by season’s end. The summer was slightly warmer than average, with an average of 18.3 °C compared to a normal 17.9 °C. Across all territories, the lowest temperature recorded was 1.3 °C on 13 June in Neu-Hattlich (Eupen). The highest, 36 °C, was recorded on 12 August in Zele.

Finally, the summer was sunnier than usual, with 619 hours and 26 minutes of sunshine.

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