From the Middle East to Russia, and Ireland to the US, temperature records the world over have been toppled during a week of unprecedented heatwaves that some will take as evidence of global warming.

Records have been set in Belfast and Castlederg in Northern Ireland, where the mercury hit 29.5C (85.1F) and 30.1C (86.2F) respectively on 28 and 29 June, and south of the border it reached 32C (89.6F) in Shannon on 28 June.

The Met Office also recorded the hottest June ever for Wales, where temperatures reached 33C (91.4F) in the coastal town of Porthmadog as the month drew to a close.

Image: Youngsters in Ireland have been making the most of the sun

Image: This dog enjoyed the warm temperatures in Wales earlier

Meanwhile, there have been some unprecedented conditions some 5,000 miles away in Oman.

Residents in the small fishing village of Quriyat, on the northeast coast, had to endure temperatures that never dipped below 42.6C (108.7F) for 51 hours straight last week.


The unprecedented spell made for the highest nighttime temperature ever recorded anywhere in the world.

While no records have fallen in Iraq, it has been so hot in parts of the country - including Baghdad - that some people have been allowed to take time off work.

Image: Men wear umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun in Baghdad

Records have also been tumbling in parts of Europe and the US.

The capitals of Georgia and Armenia - Tbilisi and Yerevan - have soared to 40.5C (104.9F) and 42C (107.6F) respectively during the day this week.

Across the Atlantic, The Washington Post reports that Denver in Colorado equalled its all-time highest temperature of 40.6C (105F) on 28 June.

And the paper reported that on Monday this week, Mount Washington in New Hampshire and Burlington in Vermont both set their highest ever low temperatures - coming in at 15.6C (60F) and 26.7C (80F) respectively.

Image: Denver equalled its all-time high last week

Image: Families in Montreal have been basking in some incredible heat

On the same day in Montreal, Canada, the city recorded its highest temperature in 147 years - 36.6C (97.9F).

More highs could well be set in other parts of the US and Canada in the coming days, with forecasters expecting temperatures to hit triple digits in California.

Newshounds among you may be wondering why Scotland has been left out of this round-up so far.

Earlier this week Sky News reported that the Met Office had provisionally recorded the country's highest ever temperature, with it having reached 33.2C (91.7F) in Motherwell on 28 June.

That looked to have broken the previous record of 32.9C (91.2F), set in August 2003 at Greycrook in the borders.

Image: Runners in Scotland cool off during the Iron Man triathlon

However, the Met Office has now uncovered evidence that a stationary vehicle with its engine running was parked too close to the observing station at the time.

Although the measurement appears plausible given the conditions, the Met Office has said it "cannot rule out the potential for contamination" by this "non-weather-related factor" and so has decided to reject it.

"The spell of weather at the end of June and into July is without doubt a notable heatwave for the UK, and particularly for Scotland and Wales, with some very high temperatures on 28 June," read the Met Office blog.

"The rejection of the Motherwell observation for that day does not detract from that."

The UK is set to bask in fine weather until the end of July, with forecasters predicting very little rain and scorching sunshine throughout the month.