Water shortage alert as Scots get ready to swelter... again

Water shortage warnings have been issued as it emerged some parts of Scotland have seen just a third of the expected rainfall for June.

The alerts come as the country prepares for the return of another heatwave this week. Scottish Water has asked customers in Stornoway to use water “wisely” after a prolonged spell of dry weather in the area led to lower than normal loch levels.

Meanwhile in Moray, the dry weather and increased demand has lead to concerns over supply levels at Badentinan Water Treatment Works.

And it comes as another week of soaring temperatures have been predicted for Scotland, with a heatwave expected to last until July.

Forecasters say a gradual increase in heat over the coming days will peak at 30C in some places by Wednesday – and then the sunny weather will be with us until at least next weekend.

Warm air from Africa is pushing towards the UK and temperatures will gradually move up from the low 20s in the coming days.

Fraser Ra ls ton, senior forecaster at the Met Office, said: “It is the far north and north- east that have been notably dry this month – there has been typically about half the normal rainfall for June and some places are down nearer a third of the normal.

“For the month of May it was dry across Scotland, and there were some very dry areas, such as parts of the Borders.

“That trend started in April. It wasn’t as notable, but parts of Scotland had a drier than normal April followed by a dry May.

“So it is the consecutive nature of it – the north would tend to stand out as being driest for longest, and there is another week of dry weather coming up.”