Meteorological authorities in Belgium recorded a historic daily temperature of 34.6°C at Uccle on Thursday, August 13, marking the highest temperature ever measured on that specific date. As the country navigates its third heatwave of the year, regional weather services and public health departments have maintained orange weather alerts across nearly the entire national territory, sparing only coastal areas as sweltering conditions persist.
Rising Temperatures Prompt Nationwide Orange Alerts
Except for coastal zones, Belgian authorities maintained orange weather alerts through Friday evening, signaling a significant risk to public health. The Federal Public Service (SPF) Health Public kept its official warning phase active, urging residents to stay hydrated, limit strenuous outdoor activities during peak afternoon hours, and check on elderly or isolated neighbors.
Forecasters reported that Friday would likely surpass Thursday’s peaks, with maximum temperatures projected to reach up to 35°C in interior regions. The previous record for August 14 was set in 2022, when thermometers peaked at 31.9°C.
Agricultural Strain and Limited Relief
Meteorologists anticipate a break in the heat starting over the weekend, accompanied by atmospheric instability. Scattered thundershowers are forecast to develop locally, bringing variable precipitation amounts estimated between zero and ten liters per square meter. However, weather experts emphasize that these localized downpours will be erratic and entirely insufficient to reverse weeks of cumulative meteorological drought.
https://x.com/DDehenauw/status/2087863921654837543
Emergency Preparedness and Next Steps
Cooler air masses originating from the Atlantic are expected to sweep across the country by early next week, gradually returning daytime temperatures closer to seasonal norms. Meteorological agencies will continue to issue daily updates regarding regional temperature shifts and localized storm warnings as the weather pattern transitions.
Worth a look