Hotter than Costa Blanca... for now
JUST weeks ago, Scotland froze on the coldest day of the year so far as the mercury plunged to -10.1C in Braemar, Aberdeenshire.
But yesterday marked a huge turnaround as the country enjoyed the hottest day of 2017, beating Alicante, on Spain’s Costa Blanca, and the holiday island of Ibiza.
The temperature climbed to 59.5F (15.3C) in Leuchars, Fife, thanks to tropical Atlantic air sweeping across the country, though the warmest place in the UK – at 65F (18.3C) – was London’s Kew Gardens.
Despite beating Scotland’s average temperature for the month – 42F (5.5C) – most places saw cloudy, drizzly skies yesterday, with sunny spells confined to the south-east of England. However, with just a week to go until the start of meteorological spring on March 1, winter is set to return, the Met Office confirmed.
Conditions are expected to change, with a new weather system bringing rain, snow in places and high winds as the week goes on. Tonight, potentially severe gales are expected for Orkney and the north coast of Scotland, while gale-force gusts could hit exposed areas further south. An inch of snow could fall on higher ground.
The Met Office said it may issue warnings and encouraged people to check the website. Forecaster Nicola Maxey said: ‘We are going to see a change in conditions as we go through the week with more typical weather for the time of year for the UK.
‘Temperatures will go down and, by Friday, they will be closer to the average with 6-7C (42.8F-44.6F).’
However, Britons abroad might be wishing they stayed at home yesterday, as Alicante reached 58.6F (14.8C), and Ibiza 59.2F (15.1C), according to forecaster MeteoGroup.
Yesterday’s maximum at Kew was below the UK February record – 67.5F (19.7C) at Greenwich Observatory, on February 13, 1998.
The highest Scottish temperature for February was 64.2F (17.9C) in Aberdeen on February 22, 1897.
Scotland’s previous 2017 high – 57.9F (14.4C) – was at Fyvie Castle, Aberdeenshire, on Friday. The hottest day this winter – at 61.8F (16.6C) – was at Achfary, Sutherland, on December 8.
Yesterday, Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: ‘Exceptional temperatures meant Monday felt more like early June than February.
‘But it’s a stormy outlook, with highimpact weather possible and forecast models showing Thursday’s wind gusts around 50mph in Scotland, while showers could turn wintry even down to low levels.’