Record rainfall in December

Last month was the wettest December in Belgium since records began, Flanders News reports. The at-times heavy showers on New Year’s Eve were enough to break the previous record, set in 1999. Total December rainfall at the Royal Meteorological Institute’s weather centre in Uccle was 172.7mm, just breaking the previous record of 171.9mm. It rained on 28 days in December, the same as in 1999 but less than the record 30 days in December 1833. December 2012 was also warmer than average: the average temperature at the Uccle weather centre (pictured) was 5.1 celsius, well above the normal monthly average for December of 3.9 celsius.