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Joan Collins SUMMER 2006 ends today, having been drier and hotter than usual, except for September which has had more rain than average so far, according to the director of the Balearic Met Office, Agusti Jansa. By months, Jansa said that “the month of June was one of the driest, it rained very little, appreciably less than normal, and the temperatures were generally higher than average by two degrees. “July was also dry except in some isolated places where there were showers, and the temperatures were again more than two degrees above normal. “In August, the temperatures dropped to more normal levels, more in keeping with the average, although the perception of the residents was that it was a cool August. However, this feeling was just a comparison with the last few weeks of July which were very hot. As for rainfall, August was very variable and erratic. Some parts had more rainfall than normal and other parts had less”. Finally Jansa said that so far in September “there has been a lot of rain, more than average for this time of year, but this has not made up for the lack of rainfall during the previous months. Temperatures are only a little higher than normal, not even one degree above average”. The interannual rain index (during the last 12 months) indicates that Majorca actually has a surplus of one percent in its rainfall, while Minorca is suffering a 20 percent deficit (moderate dryness) and Ibiza has a surplus of nine percent. The high temperatures during the last two weeks in July caused a new record in the consumption of electricity in the Majorca and Minorca system. The Balearic climate is changing. The Balearic Met Office does not only predict the weather, which is its work most known to the public. Its work also includes research into the climate and there are changes taking place on the islands which has forced them to make a deeper study. Examples of these changes are the reverse of the normal rainfall on Ibiza and Minorca, and the summer moving forward with a hotter June and July, while August is cooler. In the long run, if these tendencies are confirmed, it could affect tourist and holiday habits.