The Royal Meteorological Institute (KMI) says that in all probability, 2023 will be the third warmest year since records began in Belgium. In its annual climatological report KMI says that it expects the average temperature for the whole of the year to be 12.1°C. If this is the case only 2020 and 2022 (average temperature of 12.2°C) will have been warmer.
“2023 third warmest year since records began", says Royal Meteorological Institute
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Meanwhile, at 8.5°C, the average minimum temperature has never been higher and was only as high as it has been this year once, in 2014.
2023 was a wetter than average year. KMI expects us to end the year with a total of 989.2 mm of precipitation having fallen at its Ukkel (Brussels) weather centre. During the past 30 years, only three years were even wetter: 2001 (1088.5 mm), 2002 (1077.8 mm) and 2021 (1038.8 mm).
Nevertheless, there were also prolonged periods of dry weather. For example, not a drop of precipitation fell at KMI’s Ukkel HQ between 16 May and 16 June. Only in 2007 did KMI record an even longer period without precipitation.
Exceptionally warm June and September
June and September were exceptionally warm months. In June KMI recorded an average temperature above 20°C for the first time ever. Another first was the fact that at no time during June did the temperature fall below 10°C. There were 17 days with maximum temperatures of at least 25°C.
There was a heatwave from 4 to 11 September. Never before was there a heatwave so late in the year in Belgium. It was also the first ever September heatwave.
During the whole year there have been just 5 days with snow. On three of these days the snow stayed on the ground.