Living in Brussels is a bit like facing the four seasons in the same day. The professionals of the fleet have learned to equip themselves with all the necessary waterproof gear; the novices, meanwhile, are still trying to hold their umbrellas upright in the middle of a rainstorm. Here are 10 words about rain in Belgium that Brussels locals love to use. After all, there’s not just one kind of rain here, but many different kinds!
1. Downpour
Humidity level: 70 to 100%.
Averse is one of the most common words for rain in Belgium – and in the French-speaking world, in fact. It refers to heavy to moderate rain, varying in intensity but generally of short duration.
The risks in the event of a downpour: getting bitten by Tonky, your Aunt Monique’s aggressive poodle, who can’t stand the fact that his fur has curled under the water.
2. Drape
Humidity level: 100,000%.
Drache is the word for the worst kind of rain (summer monsoons or the famous “national drache” of July 21). A drache is a bit like the King Kong version of the ice bucket challenge: a sudden, torrential downpour that soaks everything in its path.
The risks in the event of a rainstorm: not leaving home, not going to work, getting fired, crying, crying under the rain. Not knowing if it’s tears or rain.
3. Drizzle
Humidity level: 20%.
Crachin is a fine, easily perceptible rain, but not so heavy that you need to turn on the windshield wiper (if you’re driving). It’s not particularly annoying, and is bearable even without an umbrella. It’s the nicest kind of rain.
The risks in the event of drizzle: turning on the wiper anyway and being insulted by the driver next to you (what, you’re not saving a bit of energy with your car?).
4. Mist
Humidity level: 0.1%, but it’s still a pain in the ass!
We hate the drizzle and the horrifying sensation of having a giant mist-blower pointed at our faces! This rain gives the impression that tiny particles of water are floating in the air, yet it can be blood-curdling in winter.
The risks of drizzle: mistaking drizzle for your ex-husband’s spittle.
5. Giboulée
Humidity level: 80%.
When sudden, short-lived rain appears over Belgium, interspersed with hail or snow, it’s known as giboulée. It’s also known as tous-aux-abris-ça-va-faire-mal-au-secours.
The risks of a sleet shower: getting hit on the head by a hailstone the size of a golf ball, and forgetting your poodle Tonky at doggy day-care (since he’s been caught in a downpour).
6. Storm
Humidity level: 90%.
Thunder, lightning, gray skies and darkening rain: that’s the storm! It’s no thunderbolt, and when it approaches, it’s best to be well sheltered.
Thunderstorm risks: if you’re planning to shoot a remake of Rihanna’s “Umbrella” video, you’d better opt for drizzle, as the storm could make the whole thing electric.