Belgium braces for temporary heatwave before thunderstorms return

Belgium is set for a brief return of summer warmth as the school year begins, with temperatures expected to climb to 25-28°C on Wednesday and Thursday. This welcome heat, however, will be short-lived. Meteorologist Pascal Mormal of the Royal Meteorological Institute (IRM) anticipates a significant shift by Thursday, when a weather system moving up from France is predicted to bring rain, showers, and localized thunderstorms.

The incoming precipitation is seen as a positive development after a summer marked by drought, which contributed to fires in the Hautes Fagnes region. Mormal forecasts potential rainfall totals of 40 to 50 liters per square meter by Sunday, suggesting that most areas will receive much-needed rain. This is a welcome change from the dry conditions that have persisted through much of the summer.

Following Thursday's thunderstorms, cooler, more oceanic weather patterns are expected to return for the weekend. Temperatures are forecast to drop to between 17°C and 23°C, accompanied by regular showers and occasional thunder. Looking ahead, Mormal indicated that the forecast for the next ten days does not suggest a sustained return of summer weather. Temperatures in early September might even dip slightly below average, with variable weather patterns influenced by the ocean.

While a lasting summer return is not on the immediate horizon, Mormal did not rule out the possibility of warmer weather later in September. Seasonal trends suggest a potentially warmer month overall, with some French forecasts indicating more anticyclonic and warmer conditions from the second week of September. However, Mormal stressed the need for caution, emphasizing that the weather for the first week of September is expected to remain relatively variable.