From Sizzling Saturday... to Meltdown Monday!

SCOTS are set to bask in a ‘welcome heat’ this weekend before the mercury climbs to an ‘uncomfortable level’.

Tomorrow and Sunday will see temperatures hit the low twenties everywhere but the NorthWest, with highs of around 27C (81F) in the East.

The temperatures are above average for this time of year – from around 14C (57F) in Shetland to 19C (66F) in the Central Belt.

‘The nights will be partcularly warm’

But by Monday, the warmer weather will crank up to more ‘exceptional’ levels.

Meteorologist Steven Keates said: ‘I think there is going to be a transition from welcome heat, which I think if we’re honest many people would say they enjoy at this time of year, towards a more uncomfortable level.

‘The highest for Scotland was 32.9C on August 9, 2003, at Greycrook in the Borders and I would say it’s not completely out of the question that we could exceed that on Tuesday.

‘We’re certainly going to see higher temperatures from the Borders up to Fife. Greycrook might even come up trumps again.

‘The nights will be particularly warm, in the mid to upper teens, so not quite so oppressive as further south but still warmer compared to normal Scottish nighttime temperatures.’

In England and Wales, a yellow ‘danger to life’ weather alert has been issued for extreme heat.

The mercury is expected to rise beyond 35C between Sunday and Tuesday, with ‘population-wide adverse health effects’ deemed likely. The Met Office was due to review the warning today and urged Scots to keep an eye on the situation. Mr Keates said: ‘The heat may not just impact those who are vulnerable – fit and healthy people could be affected too.

‘Workplaces might need to consider changing their working practices and transport disruption is a possibility since railways don’t tend to deal well with the heat.

‘Roads are likely to be busier and a traffic jam in the heat is always going to be worse.’

Ayrshire in particular is expecting an influx of daytrippers enjoying the annual Glasgow Fair holiday, which begins this weekend.

Ahead of the holiday, environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful has launched a campaign to ‘remind people to take their litter home or bin it, to bag and bin dog poo, and to enjoy their visits to the beach’.

Meanwhile, RNLI Lifeguards Scotland has urged all beach-goers to take necessary precautions to cut the risk from adverse heat. A spokesman said: ‘It’s important to protect yourself from the sun. Remember, slip on a T-shirt, slap on a hat, slop on suncream and slurp water.’