Figures from the Royal Meteorological Institute (KMI) show that autumn 2023 was warmer than average and show big differences in precipitation between the first half of the climatic autumn and the latter half of the season.
Between 1 September and 15 October KMI recorded a cumulative total of 81.0mm of rainfall at its Ukkel (Brussels) weather station. Rain was recorded on just 12 out of 46 days during this period. This is a new record, beating the previous record of 14 days of precipitation between 1 September and 15 October that was set in 2018. Normally rain falls on an average of 21.9 days during September and the first half of October with the cumulative precipitation total averaging at 101.6mm.
It was a very different story between 16 October and 30 November. During the second half of autumn some 202.6 mm was recorded at Ukkel. Rain fall on all but 6 days.
The average precipitation for the period between 16 October and 30 November is 107.9mm spread over 26.6 days. Precipitation levels during the latter half of autumn 2023 were a new record. The previous record having been set in 1991 (194.3 mm).
During the autumn as a, whole precipitation levels were above average at 283.7mm.
Warmer than average
The autumn as a whole was warmer than average with September being marked by a heat wave. Average temperatures were 13.4°C compared to a normal average of 11.2°C. Autumn 2023 was the second warmest autumn since records began in 1833.