Bank holiday Sunday
Grey May weather gives way to summer at last
THE Bank Holiday weekend will see the highest temperatures of the year in Scotland as summer sunshine finally arrives.
Nowhere in the country has been warmer than 20C (68F) so far this year – but forecasters predict that will be topped by the 21C (70F) expected in Glasgow today.
And the warm weather is expected to continue into June, with 24C (75F) predicted midweek.
The forecast will be welcome after this month proved to be one of the wettest and coldest months of May on record.
Dundee was the wettest place in Scotland and endured 265 per cent more rainfall than an average May.
More than five inches (132mm) of rain has fallen in the city so far this month.
Scotland’s temperature has been
‘People will really notice the difference’
almost 2C lower than usual for the time of the year.
But Met Office forecaster Oli Claydon said this weekend is ‘looking good for Scotland, right across the board’.
He added: ‘As things have been so cool recently, people will really notice the difference in the warm sunshine expected.
‘Getting into the 20s temperature-wise will feel pretty special, with even higher temperatures once the weekend has passed.’
The last time Scotland registered 20C (68F) this year was at Bowhill, Selkirkshire, on April 23.
But Mr Claydon warned of the dangers of sunburn, saying: ‘We are expecting the highest UV levels of the year, which could catch people by surprise, especially after the dull month we’ve had so far.
‘Scotland has only seen 60 per cent of the sunshine it would get in a “normal” May, with half the sunshine hours it got in April.
‘So people could get caught off guard this weekend if they are not careful.’
Today will begin with some cloud over the West Coast, which is expected to gradually clear.
Tomorrow, the East Coast will see some haar coming off the North Sea, which is expected to affect temperatures.
But forecasters say most places can expect long spells of sunshine and temperatures of 21C (70F) in Glasgow, followed by 22C (72F) on bank holiday Monday.
The mercury is then predicted to climb to 23C (73F) on Tuesday and 24C (75F) on Wednesday as warm conditions continue.
Mike Kendon of the National Climate Information Centre said: ‘The start of the month continued how April concluded, with cold conditions in charge. But then this unsettled theme dominated for most of the month.
‘As well as the rain, the cooler than average temperatures have been notable, with maximum temperatures having been particularly suppressed, often struggling to reach the high teens Celsius.
‘The average maximum temperature reported in the month for the UK is around 2C lower than the long-term average and both minimum and mean temperatures are also well below where we would expect them to be.
‘There have also been some unusually late frosts.’
But the good weather combined with an overall decline in Covid cases is set to prompt a sudden surge in journeys to beaches, beauty spots and other attractions, motoring groups have warned.
Traffic jams are ‘inevitable’ as an estimated 10.8million people drive off on bank holiday getaways – equivalent to nine in every ten drivers, the RAC said.
The reduction in coronavirus cases is also encouraging motorists to make longer trips to see friends and family, it is claimed.
The number of motorists delaying trips due to the pandemic this weekend has almost halved to 10 per cent compared with 18 per cent over the early May bank holiday and 25 per cent over Easter, according to RAC research.
‘Some unusually late frosts’