Belgium has officially recorded its hottest day of the year, with temperatures reaching 35.3°C in Belgium's official measuring station in Uccle on Friday afternoon.
The record temperature was confirmed by David Dehenauw, a meteorologist at the Royal Meteorological Institute (KMI). The temperature also broke the previous record for 26 June, surpassing the 33.5°C measured on the same date in 1976.
According to Dehenauw, the reading was recorded at 13:30. Writing on X, he said: "33.7 degrees in Uccle. Daily record from 1976 broken (33.5)".
This is the third day in a row that a 50-year-old daily record has been broken.
On Wednesday, temperatures reached 33.2°C in Uccle, making it the hottest 24 June since records began. On Thursday, temperatures rose to 34.2 degrees at the official measuring station – breaking the previous record for 25 June set in 1976.
Rising temperatures
Temperatures are expected to continue rising throughout the afternoon, with highs of up to 40°C forecast in eastern Belgium.
A red alert remains in force for the provinces of Limburg and Liège, while orange heat warnings apply across the rest of the country.
Localised thunderstorms may develop during the afternoon or evening, particularly in eastern Belgium. These could be accompanied by hail and strong wind gusts.
Friday night will remain exceptionally warm, with minimum temperatures of between 20°C and 24°C in most regions, offering little relief from the heat.
Cancellations and delays
In response to the extreme heat, emergency measures are being introduced in parts of the country.
Several peak-hour S and P trains have been cancelled after the heat affected railway infrastructure.
Belgian electricity operator Infrabel has reduced speeds on the high-speed rail line between Brussels and Paris from 300 km/h to 170 km/h until Saturday, adding an additional 12 minutes to all TGV journeys.
High-speed trains in extreme heat cause metal components to expand, which might be a safety hazard.
In Wallonia, TEC has suspended several bus services between 13:30 and 17:00, as much of its fleet is not air-conditioned.
Luxembourg Province governor Olivier Schmitez has banned most outdoor public activities until Sunday night. If organisers obtain permission from the local mayor, they can proceed with planning their activity.
Approved events must provide free drinking water, shaded areas, reinforced medical support and inform attendees about heat-related risks. Outdoor sporting competitions are prohibited between 12:00 and 18:00.
Forecasters expect temperatures to ease from Sunday. Thunderstorms might move across the country from this weekend and quench the thirst.
Temperatures are already forecast to drop to around 25°C on Monday.
