Belgium has broken a remarkable record – June marks the ninth consecutive month of above-average rainfall. This beats the previous record set 119 years ago in 1905. Surprisingly enough, July looks set to continue the trend.
Belgium Drenched in Record-Breaking Rainfall Streak
June continued Belgium’s extraordinary wet spell, marking the ninth consecutive month of above-average rainfall. This unprecedented streak surpasses the previous record set way back in 1905, according to the Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI). And with July shaping up similarly, it seems the rain has no intention of letting up.
The previous record, eight consecutive months of excess rainfall, was set a staggering 119 years ago.
Last month, Uccle, the benchmark weather station for Belgium, recorded 73.7 millimetres of precipitation, exceeding the usual June average of 70.8 millimetres. “This represents a new absolute record,” declared the RMI in its June Climate Report. The previous record, eight consecutive months of excess rainfall, was set a staggering 119 years ago.
This record comes as no surprise to residents who endured torrential downpours throughout the month. In mid-June, a month’s worth of rain fell in a single week, triggering floods across the nation. The month’s highest daily rainfall in Uccle was 17.6 mm on June 18th, while Frassem in Arlon witnessed a record-breaking 52.8 mm on June 29th.
Colder Temperatures and Less Sunshine
June was not only wet but also unusually cold. The average temperature in Uccle after 22 days was a mere 14.5°C, well below the normal 16.3°C, making it the fourth coldest June since 1991. Despite a late-month warm-up, the final average temperature of 16°C fell short of the usual 16.7°C.
Weather was not only wet but unusually cold as well
The sun also took a break this June. Uccle saw only 97 hours and 21 minutes of sunshine after 22 days, compared to the usual 141 hours. Even with a sunnier end to the month, the total of 186 hours remained below the average of 199 hours.
Contrast with Global Heatwave
While Belgians yearned for summer, much of the world sweltered under record-breaking heat. The EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service reported June 2024 as the hottest June on record globally, with an average surface air temperature of 16.66°C. This marks the 13th consecutive month of record-breaking heat, and the past 12 months have been the warmest ever recorded. Europe also experienced its second-warmest June ever.
As Belgians continue to grapple with this extraordinary weather pattern, it remains to be seen whether July will extend the record-breaking rainfall streak or finally usher in a much-needed summer respite.