Summer all set to make a comeback

YOU might be forgiven for thinking this week’s downpours mark the end of the unusually glorious summer in Scotland.

But Scots need not pack away the barbecue just yet, as the record-breaking summer is set to continue next weekend with ten days of sunshine.

The climate has been decidedly cooler for the past few days after Storm Debby battered much of the UK. Formed 1,200 miles east of the US city of Boston, the storm brought up to two inches of rain in two hours after crossing the Atlantic.

Gloomy conditions over the weekend saw temperatures peak at around 16C-18C (60F64F) in Scotland as the turnaround ended a 47-day consecutive run of temperatures reaching 75F (24C) in parts of the UK.

But the country will enjoy a return to temperatures pushing past 27C (80F) next week as a bout of high pressure sees the scorching weather return for up to ten days.

Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna said: ‘We’ve been spoilt in recent weeks, but summer isn’t finished.

‘The weather is likely to settle down more widely from the weekend, with promising conditions through the week.

‘And from August 25 to September 8, there are signs the prevailing weather pattern will promote more settled conditions across the UK.

‘Temperatures are likely to be above normal, and many areas may become warm or very warm, with an increased risk of hot spells.

‘Summer isn’t finished. From next weekend and for the following week and to the end of the month, it looks increasingly settled, with highs in the mid-20s locally in Scotland.’

But before the balmy weather returns, be warned that this week is set to be mostly cloudy with outbreaks of heavy showers. A Met Office yellow warning for rain was in place yesterday from 5.25pm until 9am today for Dumfries and Galloway as well as Lothian and the Borders.

The forecasters warned: ‘Some heavy, thundery downpours will break out from early afternoon.

‘Many places should escape these downpours, but where they do occur, torrential rain is possible and as much as 20mm to 30mm of rain could fall in an hour, or 40mm [up to 1.5in] in two to three hours.

‘Lightning, hail and gusty winds may also result in some disruption. Any downpours that do occur will slowly ease during the evening.

‘There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings.’

The showery conditions are set to last until Thursday.