Indian stunner
Scots swelter as summer makes a return with scorching sunshine
SCOTLAND sweltered in latesummer temperatures of more than 28C (82F) yesterday – with another scorcher expected today.
Charterhall in Berwickshire recorded the highest temperature in Scotland with a reading of 28.1C by 4pm.
The heat saw people flock to beaches, causing traffic jams on certain routes. By mid-afternoon, Traffic Scotland was warning of congestion around Loch Lomond and on the Queensferry Crossing.
The Government agency flashed the message: ‘The weather has brought out motorists this afternoon and rightly so! Just plan ahead to avoid any delays.’
Daytrippers heading to the Ayrshire coast were caught up in road closures on the way home. The northbound A77 was shut from the Dutch House roundabout at Monkton for repairs, forcing motorists to divert towards Irvine.
In the Highlands, the A830 between Fort William and Mallaig was closed in both directions at Lochailort.
Music lovers were warned to take factor 50 sun cream and wellies to yesterday’s Summer Sessions gig in Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park.
The temperature was hovering around 24C (75F) for the arrival of headliners The 1975, but the ground had not recovered from the deluges of last weekend’s concerts.
On Twitter, the organisers said: ‘It may be sunny but it’s definitely wellies weather!
‘The sun is out but please remember that Bellahouston Park is very muddy underfoot, so we strongly advise you wear wellies or appropriate sturdy footwear.’
Not all of Scotland enjoyed clear skies. Yesterday morning brought a blanket of haar in from the North Sea, affecting eastern coastal spots around Fife, Tayside and Edinburgh, and even as far inland as Falkirk.
The Met Office said the highest temperature had been the 28.1C recorded in Berwickshire. Bishopton, in Renfrewshire, was not far behind at 27.7 (82F), with 27C (81F) at Prestwick, Ayrshire, and 24.5C (76F) at Gogarburn in Edinburgh.
However, Scotland did not quite see the searing heat of England, which recorded its hottest Bank Holiday Sunday ever, with a reading of 33.3C (92F) at Heathrow Airport near London.
The heat was definitely on at the cricket at Headingley, Leeds, as England snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in an incredible third Ashes test match against Australia to keep the series alive.
Ben Stokes kept a cool head as he hit 135 not out to power England to an unlikely onewicket victory to level the series.
Today is set to smash the record for the hottest ever English bank holiday Monday, with a repeat forecast of 33C (91F). The previous record from 2017 is a full five degrees cooler.
Tomorrow is also forecast to hit the same figure, giving England three consecutive days of 33C.
Meanwhile, a rescue operation was launched on Saturday afternoon when a woman was found unconscious in the water at Sandhaven Beach, in South Shields, South Tyneside.
Emergency services were called to the beach around 3.30pm, where the woman was pulled from the water by RNLI lifeguards.
She was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead.
A 63-year-old man died while swimming at the Hell’s Mouth beauty spot on the Cornish coast on Friday.
Scotland is set to have another warm and sunny day today, according to the Met Office.
Spokesman Emma Smith said: ‘For most of Scotland, Monday will bring another beautiful day with plenty of sunshine.
‘We have low cloud coming in on Sunday night from the Atlantic. This will burn back to the coast as there is still so much energy in the sun.’
She added: ‘Later in the day, we will see some rain coming into the Western Isles.
‘It will therefore be warmer in the East, where we might see 24C (75F) or 25C (77F).
‘Most of Scotland will remain dry on Tuesday but there will be more in the way of cloud.’
‘Still so much energy in the sun’