Scorched earth: So that’s why it’s so hot
LIKE an angry patch of sunburn, a strip of bright red reveals the worldwide weather pattern that has brought the present heatwave.
Compiled by the University of Maine in the US, the map indicates the areas of the globe that have sweltered the most over the past week.
Although the darkest sections are across northern Africa – where maximum temperatures have reached almost 50C (122F) – Scotland is still well within the red zone, recording temperatures upwards of 30C (86F).
As the warm weather continued yesterday, police asked the public to avoid areas close to the Duke of Sutherland monument near Golspie in Sutherland, amid wildfires in the hills.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Scottish Water repeated its appeal to customers to conserve water. Demand is now at 140 million litres extra per day and householders are being asked to use watering cans and buckets instead of hoses to water gardens and wash cars.
According to the Met Office, it has not rained significantly in Scotland since June 20. The country’s hopes of avoiding drought could, perhaps, rest on the legend of a 9th Century saint. According to folklore, it will tip down for 40 days if rain were to fall on St Swithin’s Day, which occurs next Sunday. But the flip side of the legend warns: ‘St Swithun’s Day if thou be fair .... for forty days will rain nae mair.’
Sophie Yeomans of the Met Office said: ‘It’s all to play for, but if rain falls anywhere in the UK next week, it will be the Highlands and Islands that will get it.’