Scotland to feel the heat in scorching September

Awful August set to give way to warmer temperatures

Scotland is set to feel the heat next month in what weather forecasters are predicting to be Britain’s hottest Indian summer for 11 years.

Temperatures are expected to hit 26C half way through the month, after an initial spell of “changeable” conditions, when September begins on Friday.

The upcoming turn in fortunes will be welcome news to Scots after the country experienced one of its coldest Augusts for 30 years.

Much of Scotland was also a washout yesterday with most areas battered with gusts of up to 50mph.

England, however, experienced its hottest ever late August Bank Holiday with scorching temperatures of up to 29C.

Forecasters have said warm seas, heat from Europe and high pressure will deliver the post-summer warmth.

Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: “26C highs would not be a surprise for Scotland in September.

“Forecast models are confident of warm temperatures during the first half of autumn, with heat expected to arrive from the continent.

“Summer was flushed down the pan early this year in Scotland, with disappointed holidaymakers and abysmal peak August temperatures.”

The Met Office long-range contingency forecast added: “Sea surface temperatures around the UK remain above normal, increasing the chances of higher-than-average temperatures.

“The northwestern North Atlantic Ocean has below-normal temperatures, moderately increasing the probability of high pressure and above-average temperatures.”

Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said: “After a cooler midweek, the start of September from Friday looks like seeing temperatures improve. It will feel pleasantly warm in the sunshine.

“We are most likely to see changeable weather with rain and strong winds in the north and west of the UK. But there will be some dry and fine weather at times, too.

“There is a chance of more settled weather from mid-September.”

August was a miserable month for much of the country with just two days reaching above 21C.

Scotland’s maximum temperature of 24.1C in August – set in Dumfries last Tuesday – is colder than peak August temperatures in all but five of the last 30 years.

The weather was a far cry from recent Augusts after temperatures hit 27C last year and 26C in 2015, 2013 and 2012.

In 2003, the hottest August day ever saw the mercury hit 32.9C.

Forecast models are confident of warm temperatures during the first half of autumn...