With an average temperature of 33.5°C in the Uccle measurement station, Belgium has experienced the hottest week since the start of the measurements in 1833.
The new record was set between 6 and 12 August, with an average of 33.5°C, weather reporter and head of the Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI) David Dehenauw announced via Twitter on Thursday.
Als we de gemiddelde synoptische maximumtemperatuur van de voorbije 7 dagen (6-12/8) beschouwen, dan is het in Ukkel de warmste week geworden sinds 1833 met een waarde van 33,5 graden. De 2de warmste week is 30/6-6/7 uit 1976 met 33,4 graden als gemiddelde synoptische Tmax.
— David Dehenauw (@DDehenauw) August 13, 2020
The previous record dates back to the summer of 1976, when the average maximum temperature between 30 June and 6 July was 33.4°C.
However, in Chièvres, Deurne, Zaventem and Kleine Brogel, the average maximum temperatures in that period were between 33.9°C and 34.6°C degrees, according to Dehenauw, but as not all of those stations already existed in 1976, the comparison is not always possible.
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According to the RMI, the heat will not let up yet. Even though the temperatures will gradually drop in the coming days, 30°C is still possible in some places during the weekend.
Additionally, there is a chance of severe thunder and hailstorms on Thursday and Friday, with winds of up to 100 km/h, and some local rain showers.
Maïthé Chini
The Brussels Times
