This summer is the coolest in two decades and also the the wettest this century, the Met Office said this week.

Average temperatures recorded this past summer are 0.5 degrees below established figures since records began, making it the coolest summer in continental Portugal since 1987.

Taking into consideration only this century, between 2001 and 2007, the difference in temperatures measured in summer is even greater, with this summer 1.9 degrees cooler than other summers.

This was also the first summer since 1997 to have not recorded a heatwave.

The last heatwave in Portugal took place last year and brought higher than usual temperatures for 14 consecutive days.

This year, no heatwaves have been recorded, through the first fortnight in July was the closest the country has come to reporting one this summer.

The Met Office classes a heatwave as being when temperatures are five degrees above the average for a period of six consecutive days.

The summer of 2007, which ends on September 21, has recorded an average temperature of 20.7 degrees, whereas the temperature between 1971 and 2000 was 21.2 degrees.

Four of the five hottest summers since records began (1931) have occurred since the year 2000. The summer of 2005 was the hottest ever, followed by those of 1949, 2004, 2003 and 2006.

Health authorities recently reported that there have not been increased mortality rates this summer that could be attributed to hot weather. In 2003, a total of 2,700 are reported to have died as a result of scorching temperatures.

In the north, sea temperatures have been as low as 14 degrees, while in the Algarve, the water is two to three degrees cooler than usual at a current average of 19 degrees.

This drop is explained primarily due to wind currents, which have kept the warmer Mediterranean waters away from the Portuguese coastline.

As far as rainfall is concerned, the Met Office describes this summer as having been "rainy" with values 50 percent above average.

The month of June was the 11th wettest month since 1931, and the wettest since 1987, the Met Office said.

The Portugal News