MADRID, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Peninsular Spain recorded its highest daily average temperature for June since comparable records began in 1950, according to preliminary data released on Wednesday by the Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET).
The figures were released as much of Europe faced an early summer heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in several countries.
AEMET said that more than 100 of its 828 weather stations recorded temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or above on Monday, affecting both southern regions and the normally cooler north of the country.
The highest temperature was registered in the southern town of Andujar, where thermometers reached 45.1 degrees Celsius. Temperatures also exceeded 42 degrees Celsius in parts of Catalonia and along the Ebro River valley.
The heatwave also brought exceptionally warm nights. At around 30 weather stations, temperatures remained above 25 degrees Celsius overnight from Monday to Tuesday, while parts of the southeastern Almeria coast recorded minimum temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius for a third consecutive night, an exceptional occurrence for June in the Iberian Peninsula.
According to AEMET, the heatwave is expected to no longer meet its official criteria by Thursday as temperatures fall by an average of around 6 degrees Celsius, although hot summer conditions are likely to persist in some areas.
