2022 ties with 2020 for Belgium’s warmest year on record

With all the numbers finally in, 2022 has tied with 2020 as being Belgium’s warmest on record since measurements began in 1833.

The Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI) predicted this would be a record-breaking year in terms of both heat and dryness, with less rain than usual falling across the country in 2022.

Those predictions have now been confirmed with the final readings for December completed.

The average temperature throughout the year at the measuring station in Uccle was 12.2°C (against a normal of 11°C), a value that equals the record set in 2020.

“Every day in August had a maximum temperature of at least 20°C,” RMI climatologist David Dehenauw said on Twitter, calling that “a first for Belgium”.

New Year's Eve was particularly mild, and in the early hours of 2023’s first day, it was already 15.2°C in Uccle.

Dehenauw said this is a record high for the first day of the year.

Saturday was already the warmest New Year's Eve since measurements began, with temperatures reaching 16.3°C in Uccle.

Sunday's 15.2°C beat the previous record, which was set last year with 14.3°C.