By Krissy Storrar Dive right in, it’s 29C (but thunder’s on the way!)
SCOTS soaked up the sun yesterday as temperatures of 29C tipped the country into its second heatwave within a month.
Beaches and parks were packed, while many made use of facilities such as the outdoor swimming pool in Gourock, Renfrewshire, as they attempted to cool off.
Temperatures were well above average from the Borders to Aberdeenshire in what forecasters say is likely to be the last sustained hot spell of the summer.
The run of hot days meant four parts of Scotland were yesterday officially classed as being in a heatwave by the Met Office just three weeks after the country recorded its all-time highest temperature of 35.1C (95.2F) at Floors Castle in Kelso, Roxburghshire.
Yesterday’s top temperature was 28.9C (84F) in Threave near Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire, and more sunny skies are promised this weekend as families make the most of the last days of the school holidays.
Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud said: ‘Just three weeks ago we had quite an extreme heatwave and temperatures widely broke all-time records, then now we’re back at it with another heatwave. It’s quite unusual.
‘This heatwave has not been as hot, but temperatures are still well above average.
‘It has been a little bit more homegrown. We’ve had high pressure build across the country and it’s almost like the ground has acted as a storage heater to where we are now.’
The tinder-dry conditions have prompted warnings about fire risks, with many supermarket chains no longer selling disposable barbecues.
Scottish Water has also asked the public not to use hosepipes or fill large paddling pools to conserve water.
A Met Office amber weather warning for extreme heat is in place for parts of central and southern England and Wales until midnight tomorrow, with temperatures expected to be as high as 36C (97F) this weekend before returning to the low 30s by Monday.
The mercury hit a high of 34.2C (93.6F) at Wiggonholt, West Sussex, on Thursday.
In Scotland, the weather is set to break earlier. A Met Office yellow weather warning is in place for tomorrow afternoon with thunderstorms and heavy
showers forecast. Downpours could make Monday and Tuesday a washout.
The rain will be welcomed by farmers and gardeners, though the rest of August is likely to see cooler, cloudier conditions rather than the steady rain needed to ease the water shortages.
Mr Stroud added: ‘There’s not really anything in the forecast in terms of significant or useful rainfall. What we need is a sustained period of light consistent rain and there’s no sign of that.’
Meanwhile, a heat health alert in place for the south of England and parts of Wales has prompted a supermarket run on bottled water. It comes as Europe experiences intense heat patterns as a result of climate change, sparking droughts and wildfires across the continent.