Spain recorded its hottest ever temperatures during the first half of this year.
The average temperature measured 15.5C, while July had the hottest monthly temperature on record of 26.5C on average. The previous July high of 26.2ºC was in 2003.
But the figure of 26.5C masks the reality for certain regions where thermometers showed temperatures well above 40C.
During the same period temperatures across the world were also higher than ever before recorded, according to a US agency.
A representative from Spain’s meteorological agency, Aemet, called the rise in temperatures a “genuine atrocity” but warned against putting all the blame on climate change. Meterological reasons might explain some aspects.
"You have to take the climatic variability into consideration," Ana Casals said, "as a year with more storms will of course be cooler".
Aemet data indicate that temperatures in Spain will increase by three to five degrees over the rest of the century. It predicts the rise will be felt most in the centre and south as well as Pyrenees.
