Scotland heading towards official heatwave as experts forecast 'pulse' of hot weather will hit 28C tomorrow
- Temperatures remain eight degrees above average and will remain high overnight
- But forecasters warn that warm weather could also bring thunderstorms to parts of the country
SCOTLAND’S Indian summer is to continue today with a ‘renewed pulse’ of hot weather which could trigger an official announcement of a September heatwave.
Temperatures again soared to the high twenties yesterday, giving Scots the chance to head outside and enjoy the balmy conditions after a miserable July and August.
Fine, dry weather will dominate the outlook until the weekend, and temperatures could peak at 28C today (Thursday) and Friday.
Yesterday holiday hotpots in the north west saw the best weather, as Kinlochewe, Wester Ross, recorded the top temperature of 27.3C, Achnagart, Lochalsh, was 26.7C, and Aviemore saw 25.2C.
Drumalbin in south Lanarkshire also recorded 25.4C.
Glasgow University students Elena Tefera (20) and Hannah Nixon (20) enjoy the sunshine at Kelvingrove Park
The Met Office said temperatures will remain at least eight degrees above average and even overnight the mercury will not tend to fall below the low teens.
As the weekend approaches, another burst of heat will be sent northwards, meaning temperatures will stay in the mid to high 20s and making for a ‘remarkable long hot spell’.
Scotland has also had some of the longest periods of sunny weather, as on Tuesday the most sunshine in the UK was recorded at Prestwick, Ayrshire, with a total of 12.5 hours.
Despite the sultry daytime weather, Braemar also recorded the country’s chilliest temperature with an overnight low of 1.4C on Tuesday.
But Scotland is unlikely to break the 30.7C record for the hottest day of 2023, whereas parts of south-east England could exceed the temperatures seen during June’s heatwave and reach 33C on Saturday.
Yesterday the hottest place in the UK was Kew Gardens in London, where the temperature rose to 32C.
Sunseekers pack out Glasgow's George Square
Louise Hutchinson(left), 25, and sister Rowan Hutchinson, 27, from Kirkintilloch, enjoy the weather on Ayr beach
The definition of a Scottish heatwave is three consecutive days where a temperature above 25C is recorded at the same weather station.
Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna said: ‘There’s still scope for a local heatwave.
‘Central western Scotland is probably the best place to see the highest temperatures on Thursday, but the warmest places are shifting about a bit because of the changing wind direction.
‘When you get the sun it will be very warm stroke hot. It’s well above average. The mid 20s is seven or eight degrees above average.’
The hot weather has been caused by the jet stream anchoring high pressure to the east of the UK and drawing up warmth from continental Europe.
Some haar will also form on eastern coasts in the mornings and there will be some spells of hazier sunshine.
But Scotland could also see the unusual phenomenon of elevated thunderstorms where lightning leaps from cloud to cloud rather than to the ground.
Rain can also evaporate before it reaches the ground as the storms occur thousands of feet into the air.
Heavier showers will also become more widespread towards the end of the weekend as unsettled conditions return.
As hot weather spreads across the UK today sun bathers at the Botanic gardens enjoy the heat
Forecasters are predicting changeable conditions for the rest of the month, and Mr Petagna added: ‘For England and Wales things will improve again next week but for Scotland it looks more unsettled.
‘We will hold onto more unsettled conditions and for the second half of the month there will be changeable weather towards the west of Scotland.
‘There will be a north-west, south-east divide across the UK, with Scotland seeing a bit of a mixed picture but still some warmth at times and above average temperatures.’
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