[REVISION HISTORY]

Benelux weather transitions from heat to volatile autumn

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2026-09-11 15:42 UTC → 2026-09-14 16:00 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Benelux region has transitioned from extreme heat and drought into a period of volatile, unsettled weather. While mid-August saw temperatures drop to between 19 and 23 °C, meteorologists noted that exceptionally warm North Sea temperatures have triggered heavy showers and thunderstorms along the coast. In Belgium, the Royal Meteorological Institute (KMI) has highlighted a shift toward more extreme climate patterns. The summer of 2026 was officially recorded as the warmest in Belgium since 1833, with an average summer temperature of 20.3 °C in Ukkel, surpassing the 2018 record. The season was characterized by three distinct heatwaves, including a peak temperature of 40.4 °C in Houyet. Additionally, the summer was significantly sunnier than usual, but precipitation remained below normal, with some regions like the Ardennes receiving only about 45 percent of typical rainfall. As September progressed, weather patterns remained highly variable. In the Netherlands, a warm start to the week with temperatures reaching up to 29 °C was followed by a sharp decline, bringing increased cloud cover, rain, and cooler temperatures between 17 and 20 °C. This transition is part of a broader European shift, as Atlantic fronts triggered autumn storms in Spain, with the state weather service, Aemet, issuing orange alerts for thunderstorms in certain regions. By mid-September, conditions in Belgium and the Netherlands showed signs of fluctuation. A high-pressure area was expected to bring a mostly dry Saturday to Belgium with temperatures around 22 °C, though instability returned on Sunday. In the Netherlands, specifically the Achterhoek and Liemers regions, forecasters described a weekend with “two faces,” indicating mixed conditions. Following this period of fluctuation, Belgium experienced further instability. After a warm Tuesday with temperatures potentially reaching 26 °C, meteorologist David Dehenauw reported that increasing cloud cover was expected to bring rain or thunderstorms by the evening.

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