2011, the hottest year in Spain since 1961

SPAIN (Agencies) A report by the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET, State Meteorological Agency, from where even we get our weather reports) says that 2011 has been the hottest since 1961, mainly because rainfall was down by seven percent against the forecast parameters. The overall average temperature over the year was 16.7ºC, over 1.49 points above the normal average (reference period: 1971-2000) and was higher than 2006, the hottest until now at 16.67ºC. The last quarter of the year, from October to date has been unusually hot, with temperatures averaging 17.3ºC, 1.8 points above the median for the period, which makes it the third hottest since 1960, and only bettered by 1983 and 2006. The hottest registered temperatures of the year was in Morón de la Frontera, Seville province, where on the 19th of August it rose to 42.5ºC and in the cities of Seville and Badajoz, which each registered 42ºC. As far as rain is concerned, the head of AEMET's forecasting unit, Juan Pablo Alvarez, reports that the January to March 2012 quarter is expected to be drier than usual, with little snow 'and the temperatures will be pleasant for this time of year.' (You can check their forecasts daily on our WeatherWidget on the side bar.)