Summer 2022 was the driest in Belgium since 1991
Environment & Animals
August is also the hottest month on record.
The average maximum temperature in August 2022 will be the highest ever recorded in Uccle since observations began in 1892. With an average of 27.0°C on August 29, the 8th month of 2022 thus dethrones the months of August 1911, 1947 and 1997 which had each recorded average maximum temperatures of 26.2°C, indicates the Royal Meteorological Institute (IRM) Monday on its website.
Statistically speaking, the month is not over yet. Nevertheless, the meteorological institute has already published some (provisional) figures on its website in a quite exceptional way. The IRM itself speaking of remarkable climatic facts for the month of August and the summer months of 2022. The maximum temperature in Uccle was thus equal to or greater than 20°C every day, which corresponds to the definition of a spring day. And this should also be the case for the last days of the month. The month of August will therefore have known, for the first time since the beginning of observations in 1892, 31 days of spring. In 1911, 1947, 1991, 2000 and 2009, the month of August had each time experienced 30 days of spring, whereas the normal is 23.9 days, continues the MRI.
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Nearly 2°C above average
Due to the very hot August, the summer of 2022 was also on average much warmer than normal for the 1991-2020 reference period. The MRI predicts an average temperature of 19.6°C compared to 17.9°C normally. The absolute record remains at 19.9°C in 2018. During this summer, an official heat wave was also recorded in Uccle from August 9 to 16 inclusive. Last summer was also marked by several periods of intense heat.
August was also a very dry month, continue the MRI. As of August 29, barely 17.8 mm of precipitation had fallen in Uccle against 86.5 mm in normal times and dry weather is also expected for the last days of this summer. The lowest amount of precipitation measured for the current reference period remains 15.7 mm in 1991. The lowest number of days of precipitation in 1991 will, however, be equaled. As during the month of August 1991, there are indeed only 5 days left during this month of August against 14.3 days normally.
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The slightly wetter month of June could not prevent this summer from becoming the driest in terms of precipitation deficit of the current reference period, note the IRM again. In total, only 110.6 mm of precipitation fell against 234.2 mm in normal times. The previous was the driest dates back to 2018. It had then fallen 134.7 mm of precipitation in Uccle. If we consider the complete series, that is, the measurements taken since 1833, this summer ranks ninth among the driest.
It should also be noted that the low rainfall for the July-August 2022 period, with only 23 mm measured, is the lowest ever recorded since 1833. The previous record for the same period dates from 1921 with 25.8 mm.
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