The median temperature was the highest since records began 240 years ago, said the regional official in charge of the environment, Rudi Anschober, of the Green party.

Citing data by the Blue Sky Wetteranalysen institute, Anschober said that "if any confirmation of climate change is needed, this record says it all.

"We must act now," he added.

Anschober said that five of the last 10 years were among the warmest since 1767 when records were first kept.