Get set for the warmest February day ever recorded
FEBRUARY is set to sear its way into the history books – by recording the warmest February day since the reign of Queen Victoria.
The Met Office believe that February 2019 could also go down as the warmest February on record, with figures going back to the 19th Century.
A settled weather pattern will see temperatures begin to rise today – and maintain their intensity at least until the end of this month.
As a result, the Met Office say Scotland’s hottest Febuary day could be set tomorrow or at the weekend, shattering the 17.9°C (64°F) seen in Aberdeenshire on February 22 1897.
Queen Victoria was celebrating her Diamond Jubilee and Britain was about to become involved in the Boer War.
Just 12 months ago, the country was braced for the Beast from the East, when heavy snow brought chaos to the country’s transport network.
This weekend, any traffic jams may be caused by families heading for the beach.
By next Tuesday, the Aberdeenshire community of Aboyne will be looking at a temperature high of 18°C (64°F).
“It’s really quite amazing,” said Grahame Madge of the Met Office. “Towards the weekend, we are suggesting the Scottish record temperature for February is in danger of being broken.
“Highs of 15°C and 16°C (59-61°F) are predicted for Friday and in a few sweet spots, it will be warm enough to challenge the record.
“Whether we will get a new record is still to be decided, of course.
“High pressure across continental Europe is now extending across most of the British Isles.
“This is bringing settled conditions as well as shielding us from the worst effects of Atlantic storms, whistling away to the north.”
Mr Madge said low pressure out in the Atlantic is drawing up a plume of hot air from the far south. Conditions are set fair for the rest of the month, he said.
Scotland is already within the Top Ten hottest Februarys, based on the average temperature recorded between 1981 and 2010.
The warmest month to beat is February 1998, when the daytime daily average was 8.7°C (47°F)
In the first three weeks of this month, the figure is already at 7°C (44°F) and rising temperatures over the next few days are expected to push this year up the scale, possibly becoming the hottest February on record.