JERUSALEM, Sept. 2 -- The Israel Meteorological Service (IMS) said Monday that this year's summer in the country was the hottest since records began in 1950.

According to an IMS statement, the average national daily temperature reached 29 degrees Celsius between June and August this year, about one degree higher than the previous record set 12 years ago.

The highest temperature recorded in Israel between June and August this year was 46.7 degrees Celsius, measured in northeastern Israel's Sea of Galilee region, it said.

The statement said that the main reason for the abnormal heat is unprecedented sea temperatures, which reached 32 degrees Celsius on some days.

  - Xinhua