HERE COMES SUMMER

Temperatures soar across Courier country

SUMMER HAS officially arrived and sun worshippers across Tayside and Fife were out in force yesterday for what was the hottest day of the year so far.

Beaches and parks were busy across Scotland’s east coast with temperatures in Dundee putting holiday destinations such as Greece and Italy in the shade.

Temperatures in the city reached as high as 25C, with similarly warm weather reported in Fife and Angus.

The good news is that there appears to be no immediate need to rush outdoors and bask in the sunshine, with forecasters predicting a further week of clear skies.

Charlie Powell from the Met Office said: “Scotland has been topping the temperature table and yesterday morning Aviemore was already recording temperatures of 25.5 degrees.

“There is an easterly wind, which has cooled down the east coast of the country, but it is still warm for this time of year.

“The weekend should be a bit cooler, especially on the east coast.

“But, in saying that, temperatures are still likely to be warm — probably the high teens and 21 or 22 degrees inland.

“Scotland should get a good few days of sunshine and that should last into the start of next week, though it may cool a little bit.”

Traditional European hotspots were finding themselves eclipsed by the Scottish heatwave yesterday with temperatures in Tayside and Fife proving to be hotter than Athens, which could only reach 24C, and Venice at 23C. Palma, on the holiday island of Majorca, could only surpass Dundee by 1C.

Though forecasters admit that temperatures will struggle to compete with those seen yesterday, there will be no need to put away the sun cream anytime soon.

Ashley Milne from Tesco Kingsway in Dundee said that there had been a noticeable increase in summer items being sold.

She said: “We don’t know the exact numbers yet but we have had a lot of people coming in to buy barbecues, outdoor furniture and outdoor play equipment.”

Dundee butcher Gilbert Grossett said that he was preparing for a busy week ahead as customers dust down their barbecues after a long winter.

“We have sold a lot of barbecue food today — particularly kebabs,” he said.

“People love the nice weather and want to get outside and enjoy spending time in their gardens.”

Pictures: Phil Hannah and Perthshire Picture Agency. Three-year-old Curtiss Davis and two-year-old Brook Kyle (left) and Flora Gillies (10 months) were having fun yesterday on the South Inch, Perth.

Pictures: George Mcluskie. Four-year-olds Connor Henderson and Codi Carr have fun in a paddling pool in Kirkcaldy, while Natalie White (21) enjoyed a cooling paddle in the sea on a trip to Leven beach.

This image from Dundee University satellite receiving station shows the east coast of Scotland cloud free.