Belgium’s unusually mild November weather is set to end abruptly as a cold front sweeps across the country from Sunday, the Royal Institute of Meteorology (RMI) has warned. Forecasters say the change will bring the season’s first wintry showers and a notable drop in temperatures nationwide.
According to the RMI, Tuesday will see partly cloudy skies with intermittent local showers. Over higher ground, particularly in the Ardennes, some of these showers may take on a wintry character as colder air settles in. Daytime highs in central Belgium are expected to reach only around 7°C.
Conditions are forecast to worsen on Wednesday, with temperatures dropping further. Bright intervals will alternate with cloud cover, but scattered showers throughout the day may again become wintry in nature.
Snowflakes are increasingly likely over the Hautes Fagnes, where elevation and colder air could combine to produce the first visible snowfall of the season.
Despite the wintry conditions, meteorologists emphasise that any snow that does fall is unlikely to settle. Ground temperatures remain relatively mild, meaning snowfall will mostly melt upon contact. Even so, the onset of wintry precipitation marks a significant shift from the unseasonably warm days experienced earlier this month.
The sharp change comes as neighbouring Germany prepares for more severe conditions. Weather services across the border are predicting up to 20 centimetres of snow over higher terrain, signalling a much more intense start to winter for some regions of central Europe.
Belgian authorities have not issued any weather warnings but advise residents to prepare for colder mornings, slippery roads in elevated areas, and reduced visibility during showers. Commuters are encouraged to take extra caution, especially in the Ardennes and Hautes Fagnes, where conditions may deteriorate rapidly.
As temperatures continue to fall throughout the week, the RMI says the country should expect typical early-winter conditions to persist. While no major snowfall is anticipated, the arrival of wintry showers marks Belgium’s first real taste of the colder season ahead.
