2011 was the hottest year in Spain since records began

All end of year figures are pointing to Spain having the hottest years on record since records began in 1961.

Although the exact figures haven't been published yet, the yearly average temperature across Spain for 2011 has been 16.7 degrees Centigrade, 0.3 degrees above the previous hottest year of 2006.

The average temperatures have been almost 1.5 degrees hotter than normal. Leading to the National meteorological agency to refer to 2011 as "very hot to extremely hot" for nearly all of Spain.

Somewhat surprisingly the hottest land temperature recorded was 42.5C degrees in Moron de la Frontera, Sevilla on August 19th. Having lived in Southern Spain for a number of years, temperatures have felt higher every year.....and 42.5C degrees as a record temperature just doesn't sound that high any more!!

2011 was also drier than normal with 7% less rainfall than predicted.

The coldest recorded temperature was on January  23 in Molina de Aragón, Guadalajara when thermostats dropped to -13.6 degrees centigrade