Belgium Issues Heatwave Alert as Temperatures Soar

Belgium has officially entered a heatwave, with the Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI) reporting a scorching 35.7 degrees Celsius (96.3 Fahrenheit) in Uccle on Tuesday afternoon. This marks the hottest day of the year so far, surpassing the previous record of 35.5 degrees Celsius set on June 26. The Uccle station also broke its daily temperature record for August 14, which had stood at 31.9 degrees Celsius since 2022.

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Today, the temperature was measured at 35.7 degrees Celsius in the afternoon at the Uccle station.

The country officially declared a heatwave after meeting specific criteria: at least five consecutive days with temperatures at or above 25 degrees Celsius, including at least three days reaching 30 degrees Celsius or higher. Temperatures in Uccle reached 31.3 degrees Celsius on Wednesday and 34.6 degrees Celsius on Thursday, fulfilling the conditions for the official declaration.

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This means that today was recorded as the hottest day of the year in the country.

A high-risk orange alert is now in effect for much of Belgium, signaling extreme heat conditions. Residents are urged to take necessary precautions, including avoiding outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day, drinking plenty of water, and limiting strenuous physical exertion. The current heatwave is forecast to persist until August 16.

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The previous daily temperature record for August 14 in Uccle was also broken.