2015 hottest on record for Spain

Spain has enjoyed its hottest year ever in 2015.

Data published by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) last week revealed that 2015 is likely to be the hottest year on record for Spain.

The longest-ever heatwave recorded began on June 27 and lasted for almost a month, through to July 22, during which temperatures in many parts of Spain exceeded 40ºC for many days straight…

Seville, Granada and Córdoba all saw temperatures push close to their records, and in Zaragoza a temperature of 44.9ºC was recorded – the hottest ever for the city.

But it wasn’t just summer that saw temperatures sizzle. The WMO noted that May was an unusually warm month, as was September and much of October. Around the world it was a similar story, with the globe also set to experience its warmest autumn yet.

“2015 is likely to be the hottest year on record, with ocean surface temperatures at the highest level since measurements began,” said WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud. “It is probable that the 1ºC threshold will be crossed.”

Jarraud was referring to a global average temperature increase of one degree Celsius, which is likely to prove irreversible unless “urgent” action is taken on combating climate change.

Hundreds of heads of state came together in Paris at the end of November for the COP21 UN Climate Change Summit, which is shaping up to be a pivotal conference that should compel most of the world’s most polluting nations to set binding carbon reduction targets for 2030.