"was" and "used to" aren't the same thing?

[Vivaldi]

First sentence:

The highest temperature ever recorded in the place was 49.1°C in July 2021, which (was) the highest temperature ever recorded in the country until 2 years later.

Second sentence:

The highest temperature ever recorded in the place was 49.1°C in July 2021, which (used to be) the highest temperature ever recorded in the country until 2 years later.

Aren't both correct and the meaning is the same?

[RasmusAiken]

They mean the same. But in composition 'used to be' is more awkward. "Was is ok. But for more clarity, I'd suggest using 'was once' because you later tell the reader that the record changed in 2 years.

[Vivaldi]

And from the sentence, it is understood that record changed somewhere else in the country, right?

[Vivaldi]

Record change was somewhere else, I meant

[BoopBoopBeep]

The highest temperature ever recorded in the place was 49.1°C in July 2021, a record for the entire country until 2023.

Shorter and doesn't have the awkward repetition of "The highest temperature ever recorded" being in there twice.