The past year again broke several weather records. In particular, the large amount of rain had a negative impact on outdoor life and therefore also on the outdoor leisure industry. In Ukkel (Belgium) a record of 1171 mm of precipitation fell, compared to 837 normal. It was also very mild with 11,9 degrees against 11,0 normal and it was gloomy with only 1368 hours of sunshine against 1604 normal.
It was the wettest year ever for Uccle. 1171 mm fell, compared to the normal 837 mm. Normal precipitation levels were already reached by the end of September , and an absolute record was set on November 27. Precipitation fell in Uccle on 209 days, compared to the normal 190.
Precipitation measurements date back to 1833 and never before has a year been as wet as 2024. The previous record was 1089 mm and was measured in 2001. In 2002 1078 mm fell, in 1965 1074 and in 1966 1056 mm.
It is striking that the precipitation record was not accompanied by a record number of precipitation days. Precipitation fell on 209 days and the record is 266 days. In 1974, this record number of precipitation days was noted. The large amount of precipitation is explained by the large number of days with heavy rainfall. Then we look at days with more than 20 mm. In 2024, 11 heavy rainfall days were noted compared to 5 normally.
The most precipitation in Ukkel fell on July 9th with 42 mm. The highest daily precipitation amount was measured on October 9th. On that day 82 mm fell.
Few snow days, more thunderstorm days
Not only in Ukkel, but also in the rest of the country there was more precipitation than average. In Wevelgem 817 mm fell and in Mont-Rigi 1864. In Ukkel precipitation fell as snow on only 6 days compared to 17 normally. On 18 and 19 January a maximum of 11 cm of snow fell. Elsewhere a total of 25 days of wintry precipitation fell. In the High Fens there was snow from 7 to 22 January. On 18 January there was 24 cm in Mont-Rigi.
In February, only 3 days with wintry precipitation were recorded. In the spring, precipitation consisted of snow on 12 days, of which 2 days were in March and 10 in April . In November and December, wintry precipitation fell on 17 days.
Last year there were 101 days of thunderstorms compared to the normal 93. In September a record was broken with 18 days of thunderstorms. The previous record dated from 1990 with 17 days.
Remarkable facts about precipitation
In May 2024, precipitation occurred on 23 days, and the record was 22 days in 2007 and 2021. During the first 12 days of July , a total of 87 mm fell. This amount set a new record for these 12 days and was already higher than the normal value for the entire month: 77 mm.
In October, there was slightly less rainfall than average, bringing an end to the series of consecutive months with more rainfall than average in Uccle. The record therefore now stands at twelve months and was measured over the period from October 2023 to September 2024. The previous record was eight months, from March to October 1905.
The fall of 2024 was the seventh season in a row with more precipitation than average. It is only the second time since the beginning of observations in 1833 that we have experienced a series of at least seven consecutive too wet seasons. The record is 9 seasons over the period spring 1924 through winter 1926.
Fifth warmest year on record
With an average temperature in Ukkel of 11,9 degrees against 11,0 normally, it was a very mild year. This value was good for a shared fifth place together with 2018. At the top of the ranking are the record years 2020 and 2022 with 12,2 degrees. In 2023, the average was 12,1 degrees.
With the exception of June, all months were on average on the mild side. February was even the warmest February since 1833. It was also striking that neither February nor March recorded a single day of frost.
Four winter days in January
The lowest temperature in Uccle was -6,8 degrees. The lowest temperature was recorded in Elsenborn. On January 21 , the mercury dropped to -15,5 degrees. In January, ice days (winter days) were recorded again for the first time since 2021. On four days, the temperature remained below zero for the entire 24 hours.
This year there were 20 frost days compared to the normal 39. Only in 2014, 1974 and 1988 were there fewer frost days. In 2014 the counter stopped at only 8 days.
No heat waves
The highest temperature in Ukkel was 34,0 degrees. The national highest value was 36,0 degrees and was measured in Zele. On March 20, we reached temperatures of at least 20 degrees for the first time this year. On June 25, we reached temperatures of at least 30 for the first time. Although 2024 was a very warm year, no official heat waves were recorded. The previous year without heat waves dates from 2021.
Very gloomy year
It was not only very mild and soaking wet, but the sun also failed to show up. In Uccle, the sun shone for a total of only 1368 mm. With 1239 hours of sunshine, 1981 was the gloomiest year ever, but if we look at the period since 1991, it was the third gloomiest year. Only the months of January and August were sunnier than average.
More information: Meteovista.be
And for the Netherlands: 2024: record-warm, soaking wet, and on the gloomy side.