Sawt Falasteen - July was Spain's hottest month on record: weather agency

The average temperature of 25.7C was 2.6C higher than the 1991-2020 reference period and tied with July 2022 as the warmest month, AEMET said in a statement.

Last month was also mainland Spain's driest July on record as 4.3 millimetres of rain fell, which represented just 26 percent of the normal precipitation for the time of year.

Scientists have long warned that human-driven climate change, caused by the burning of fossil fuels, is increasing the length, frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as heatwaves.

Monday's announcement came after Europe's climate monitor said the west of the continent endured its hottest June-July on record.

Of the 10 warmest months of July recorded in Spain, eight have occurred in the 21st century, AEMET said.

The southeastern region of Murcia reached the highest temperature in AEMET's main network last month, reaching 44.2C on July 23.

The relentless heat and scarce rainfall created ideal conditions for wildfires that scarred swathes of Spain, including a huge blaze just dozens of kilometres west of the capital Madrid.

The largest wildfire in Spain's recent history burned more than 50,000 hectares (123,500 acres), forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people and sparked a national emergency.

J.AbuShaban--SF-PST