The past Hebrew year was the warmest on record in Israel in the last 75 years, the Israeli Meteorological Service said on Tuesday.

The year, which was marked by an especially warm summer and mild winter, surpassed the previous record warmth set a decade and half ago in 2009-2010.

The hottest reading this summer was 48 degrees Celsius or 118.4 degrees Fahrenheit, which was recorded in the Jordan Valley.

There was also a rare string of 15 consecutive rain days in Israel last winter.

(JNS)