Weather: a fresher start to the week before the return of sweetness, “the hot scenario is largely dominant for the coming months”

Part of Belgium is already in extreme drought: “This poses big problems for farmers for the yield of their land”

This return to sweetness is part of a marked trend: the temperatures of this meteorological spring (started on March 1) already reach 10.6 ° C on average, the highest 4th value ever recorded during this period. The sun, too, shines more than normal: 477 hours and 36 minutes of sunshine since March 1, which ranks this period just behind the 2011 record.

But it should not be forgotten that it masks a more disturbing reality: drought worsens, in certain regions of the country. “”The few rains observed recently have not arranged anythingspecifies MORMAL. While some regions of the east of the country have been a little better watered, west of Belgium-everything that is west of an Antwerp-Brussels-Mons line-suffers from an extremely qualified drought. Uccle, for example, received only 2 liters per square meter this weekend, when other southern regions were entitled to thunderstorms of 10, 20, even 30 liters. Since March 1, only 30.5 mm of rain have been measured, far from 112.7 mm normal. This is the second lowest value ever observed during this period, after that of 1893“, Details Pascal Mortmal again.

Seasonal models have been updated and all go in the same direction: summer will be scorching, “the temperature anomaly has been further accentuated”

The observation is clear: the surface drought worsens, with very little rain expected in the next ten days – barely 2 or 3 mm throughout the country. And for the future? Should we fear a scorching summer? “”The hot scenario is largely dominant for the coming monthsestimates Pascal Mormal. It is almost excluded to have a fresher summer than normal. On the precipitation side, the signal is more neutral, but the current situation could influence the coming weeks. Because a sustainably dry time makes air less humid and participates in the blocking.“

A reassuring element of stability remains nevertheless. “”The water tables remain at a good level, thanks to the very humid 18 months that we have known before. It is a welcome security mattress to avoid drought in depth, but farmers must already deal with very dry soils“Concludes the meteorologist.

Surface drought begins to be felt in Wallonia