The North Sea off the coast of the Netherlands warmed up to a record 21.5 degrees Celsius.

The water temperature in the North Sea off the coast of the Netherlands reached an unprecedented 21.5 degrees Celsius, the highest since records began in 1984. This new record was set last weekend, according to the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Office (KNMI).

The measurements were taken near the island of Goeree Leit. The previous maximum was 21.4 degrees Celsius, recorded on August 8, 2018.

KNMI attributes this record to global warming and persistent high-pressure systems that have provided sunny weather and light winds in recent months.

"Global warming is driving new temperature records not only on land but also at sea, with unpredictable consequences for marine life," the institute stated.

It was previously reported that the current heatwave in the North Sea has been ongoing since May 24. Water temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius have been recorded for 35 days this year, and continued warming poses a threat to cold-loving fish species, algae, marine plants, and mussel populations.

KNMI called for accelerated reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, including from fossil fuel burning and large-scale livestock farming, and for increased efforts to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

In July, the world's seas outside the polar regions reached record temperatures for the month, and heat and drought led to shallow rivers in Europe. In the UK, July was the driest in England and Wales in 190 years of record-breaking data, and large swathes of the country were declared drought zones.