The Island is experiencing an unusually long spell of hot weather, the Bermuda Weather Service confirmed yesterday.

Temperatures have reached or exceeded 89 degrees Fahrenheit - five degrees above the average daily maximum - since July 23.

A similar heat wave spell last occurred in 1994 with 19 days in a row of temperatures at or above 89 degrees Fahrenheit.

The hottest day on record was August 20, 1989 when the mercury soared to 93 F (33.9 C). This year the hottest day temperature recorded so far was 91.7 F (32.9 C) on Monday, August 11.

"The synoptic reason for this is the stagnant weather in our region," according to Kimberley Zuill of the Bermuda Weather Service.

"The Bermuda-Azores high pressure area has been hovering around Bermuda with little influence in the upper atmosphere to create a change to the pattern.