The glorious calm (before the storm)
Sunny spell to end in flooding... and ‘danger to life’
SCOTLAND may have been basking in warm and sunny weather, but the heatwave is about to come to a dramatic end.
Violent thunderstorms are forecast and the Met Office has issued ‘danger to life’ warnings.
Summer will begin with severe downpours across almost the entire country, along with high winds and giant hailstones.
The Met Office yesterday published a weather warning for potential flash flooding, lightning strikes and torrential rain.
Forecasters said power cuts, road closures and rail cancellations are likely as Scotland is battered by storms overnight and into the early hours of this morning.
The amber warning – meaning a potential risk to life – reads: ‘Flooding of homes and businesses is likely and could happen quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds.’
It adds: ‘There is a small chance of fast-flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life. Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services.
‘Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures.
‘There is a slight chance that power cuts could occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost.’
All but the Outer Hebrides and parts of Aberdeenshire are predicted to be hit by the storms.
A further yellow weather warning has been issued for tomorrow, affecting the West Coast, Central Belt and the Highlands. Scotland has so far escaped the thunder and lightning which have been a dramatic feature of the weather in England and Wales since last weekend.
Met Office forecaster Bonnie Diamond said: ‘It’s not a great start to summer.
‘Friday’s thunderstorms are more widespread and affecting more areas of the UK than storms in previous days.
‘Scotland could see torrential downpours and the risk of flooding causing danger to life, although thunderstorms will be scattered.
‘Large hailstones over 25mm [0.9in] in diameter and potentially up towards 50mm [1.9in] are a risk. Saturday also sees thunderstorms in Scotland.’
Leon Brown, head of meteorological operations at The Weather Channel, said: ‘This week is seeing freakish, record-breaking thunderstorm deluges.’
A yellow warning was yesterday issued for heavy rain in the South East of England, the Midlands and East Anglia.
The storms are predicted to move north into northern England and Scotland overnight.
Scotland has remained the hottest place in the UK this week, with some areas recording temperatures of 79F (26C).
Met Office officials said the hottest places were Kinlochewe, Ross-shire, where temperatures hit 79F (26C) and Prestwick in Ayrshire, where temperatures peaked at 78F (25.4C).
Coastal towns were packed with tourists while ferry operators struggled to cope with the demand for day trips to the islands.
Coastguards responded to five call-outs over the weekend, including one to rescue two men stranded half a mile out to sea on a children’s inflatable.
The scorching temperatures also saw three major wildfires break out in the Highlands.