Bang goes summer! After the heat, now for thunderstorms
AULD DUSTY! HOW SUN SCORCHED PRINCES STREET GARDENS
SCOTLAND basked in glorious sunshine yesterday as forecasters declared that parts of the country are officially having a heatwave.
However, even as Scots thronged to sun-drenched beaches and parks, Met Office experts were warning the hot spell is not expected to last.
The sizzling summer weather enjoyed during the past few days is predicted to be replaced by heavy rain and thunderstorms.
The Met Office confirmed that several areas of Scotland – including Edinburgh, Glasgow, parts of Aberdeenshire and Fife – had met the criteria for a heatwave, with temperatures hovering above 25C (77F) for three successive days. However, the good weather is expected to break later today.
Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud said: ‘There’s a bit of a change coming down the line. Some areas will see some pretty heavy, thundery showers.’
But yesterday saw Scots enjoying the best of the sun.
In Abbotsford, Roxburghshire, crowds attended ScottFest, which celebrates the life of influential novelist Sir Walter Scott through live battle re-enactments, music and dancing. One knight taking part even resorted to emptying a bucket of water over himself and his steed in an effort to keep cool.
High temperatures saw trains on the West Highland Line forced to slow down, disrupting services.
At midnight last night, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency watchdog introduced the first water ban under its National Water Scarcity Plan. Farmers will be prevented from taking water from the River Eden in Fife, now at its second-lowest level on record.
The ban has been described as a ‘devastating blow’ for farmers, who fear crop failure and losses running to millions of pounds.
Meanwhile, yellow weather warnings are in place for heavy rain, beginning at 9am today and lasting until midnight tomorrow.
A 24-hour weather warning which begins at midnight tonight will affect Dumfries and Galloway, Lothian and Borders, Strathclyde, Central Tayside and Fife, Grampian and Highlands and Islands.
The Met Office said homes and businesses could face flooding and lightning could cause damage and some areas might face power cuts.
South of the Border, thousands of households in Surrey were left without water yesterday – a day after a drought was declared across more than half of England.
Thames Water blamed the incident on technical issues at a water treatment works.