Weather Thursday 5 November: sunshine at last after a grey Wednesday
After a grey Wednesday from morning to evening, sunshine should finally take over this Thursday 5 November across all of Belgium. A little greyness may still linger when you wake up in Flanders, Brussels and western Hainaut, whilst the south and east will enjoy clear skies from the morning. In the afternoon, it will be 9 to 12°C under a beautiful blue sky, with a light easterly wind. No rain is expected.
- Night: the sky clears mainly in the north and west; slight frost possible in the hollows of Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse and Famenne where it clears
- Morning: a little cloud cover possible in Flanders, Brussels and western Hainaut, clear skies to the south and east, 3 to 5°C
- Afternoon: sunshine across the country, 9 to 12°C
- Evening: clear skies, temperatures drop quickly, 3 to 6°C
- Rain: none
- Wind: easterly, light to moderate, gusts of 20 to 30 km/h
☁️ Why didn't the sun come out on Wednesday?
Wednesday, a sunny afternoon was forecast. In the end, a layer of low cloud remained over almost the entire country from morning to evening, with only 8 to 10°C. A few rays of sunshine broke through only late in the afternoon in the east, towards Liège and Limburg.
The explanation comes down to one image: a saucepan with its lid. The high pressure system sitting over the Netherlands pushes air downwards, and this air warms as it descends. Around 1 000 metres altitude, it is therefore a little milder than below: this is the lid, which meteorologists call a temperature inversion. The moisture coming from the Netherlands remains trapped just below this lid and forms a thick layer of low cloud. In November, the sun is too weak to break it up.
Most forecast tools made these clouds disappear too quickly, only a few kept them. This situation of "anticyclonic greyness" is rare, but it reminds us of one thing: the weather is not an exact science. When we get it wrong, we explain it to you.
☀️ Thursday 5 November: the sun makes its return
🌌 Tonight: the sky clears from the north and west
Low cloud cover may still affect many regions, but the sky should clear in places, mainly in the north and west, as well as over western Hainaut. Where it clears, a slight frost is possible in the hollows of Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse and Famenne. Under the greyness, it will remain milder. Lows of -1 to 1°C in the hollows of Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse, 2°C in Famenne and on the Sambre-et-Meuse ridge, 3 to 4°C elsewhere.
🌅 Thursday morning: some greyness in the north-west, sunshine in the south
A few low clouds may still linger when you wake up over Flanders, the Brussels region and western Hainaut, before gradually clearing. The south and the Ardennes will see clear skies return more quickly. A light frost is not ruled out on parked cars in dips. Temperatures at sunrise: 3 to 5°C.
☀️ Thursday afternoon: sunshine across the country
Sunshine should finally take over the whole of Belgium, with only a few clouds near the sea and over western Flanders. The air remains fresh, but this fine sky will make your walk very pleasant. It will be 12°C in the Liège region and in Famenne, 11°C in Hainaut and along the Sambre-and-Meuse corridor, 10°C in the centre, in Flanders, in the Campine, in Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse and in Gaume, 9°C on the coast and over the High Fens. UV index: 2, low.
🌙 Thursday evening: clear and cold sky
Under a clear sky, barely clouded over in the west, the air will cool down very quickly. The valleys in the south will be the first to feel the chill, with ground frost possible late in the evening in Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse. Evening temperatures: 6°C in the centre, Flanders, the Liège region and at the coast, 5°C in Hainaut and Gaume, 3 to 4°C in Famenne, Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse and on the High Fens.
💨 The wind
The wind will blow from the east, light to moderate, with gusts of 20 to 30 km/h. Much calmer than Wednesday.
🌡️ Forecast temperatures for Thursday in the main towns
| Town | Minimum | Maximum | Afternoon sky | Gusts (day) | Rain (day) |
| Brussels | 3°C | 10°C | Partly cloudy | 25 km/h | dry |
| Antwerp | 4°C | 10°C | Sunny | 30 km/h | dry |
| Ghent | 3°C | 10°C | Partly cloudy | 25 km/h | dry |
| Ostend | 4°C | 9°C | Partly cloudy | 30 km/h | dry |
| Liège | 3°C | 12°C | Sunny | 20 km/h | dry |
| Namur | 2°C | 11°C | Sunny | 20 km/h | dry |
| Charleroi | 1°C | 10°C | Sunny | 20 km/h | dry |
| Mons | 3°C | 11°C | Partly cloudy | 20 km/h | dry |
| Tournai | 3°C | 10°C | Sunny | 25 km/h | dry |
| Hasselt | 4°C | 10°C | Sunny | 30 km/h | dry |
| Marche-en-Famenne | 2°C | 12°C | Sunny | 20 km/h | dry |
| Virton | 3°C | 10°C | Sunny | 30 km/h | dry |
| Butgenbach | 2°C | 9°C | Sunny | 35 km/h | dry |
📅 What's next? A greyer weekend
Friday 6 November: hazy sunshine
A veil of high cloud would filter the sun across most regions, with a few patches of fog possible at sunrise in East Flanders, Brussels, Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse and Condroz. Limbourg and Liège province would enjoy the clearest spells. Lows of 0 to 4°C, highs of 8 to 10°C.
Saturday 7 November: fog then overcast
Fog and overcast skies at sunrise across much of the country, sometimes dense in Hainaut and Gaume, then a layer of low cloud that would not break up during the day. A little localised drizzle cannot be ruled out. Lows of 1 to 5°C, highs of 7 to 10°C.
Sunday 8 November: brighter spells from the west
Persistent fog in the Ardennes in the morning, then clear spells spreading westwards and over Gaume in the afternoon. Liège province and higher ground would remain greyer. Minimum temperatures of 4 to 7°C, maximum temperatures of 9 to 11°C.
| Day | Weather | Temperatures (min / max) | Wind |
| Friday 6 | 🌤️ Hazy sunshine, a few patches of fog when you wake up | 0 to 4°C / 8 to 10°C | Light, gusts of 10 to 20 km/h |
| Saturday 7 | 🌫️ Fog clearing to grey skies all day, light drizzle possible | 1 to 5°C / 7 to 10°C | South-westerly, gusts of 15 to 25 km/h |
| Sunday 8 | ⛅ Fog in the Ardennes, bright spells from the west in the afternoon | 4 to 7°C / 9 to 11°C | Southerly, gusts of 20 to 25 km/h |
- Coat and scarf when you wake up: only 3 to 5°C, a touch of frost possible in the southern valleys
- You can leave your umbrella at home, the day will be dry everywhere
- The best time to enjoy the sunshine: between 12:00 and 16:00
- Remember to bring your delicate plants inside before the cold evening
Reliability is good for the sunny afternoon and dry weather. Following Wednesday's experience, the main uncertainty concerns the grey skies in the morning across Flanders, Brussels and western Hainaut: it could take a while to clear. The south and east should benefit from sunshine from the morning onwards. For the weekend, the extent of fog remains uncertain.
Is the sun coming your way? Hourly forecast for your town, live radar, alerts and weather warnings.
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Why was it grey on Wednesday when sunshine was forecast?
A layer of low clouds became trapped beneath a temperature inversion, around 1,000 metres altitude, under the anticyclone. November's sun was too weak to disperse it, and most forecasting tools were predicting it would clear too quickly.
Will the weather be fine on Thursday 5 November?
Yes, sunshine should dominate everywhere in the afternoon. A bit of greyness remains possible on waking in Flanders, Brussels and western Hainaut.
What temperature on Thursday?
9 to 12°C in the afternoon, 3 to 5°C in the morning. It will be warmest in the Liège region and Famenne.
Will it rain this weekend?
No, the weather will remain dry, but Saturday looks grey with fog, and a little light drizzle locally cannot be ruled out. Rain could return from Tuesday onwards.
Forecast drawn up by Michaël Vincent, Météo Belge.
