When will the heatwave return in Scotland after days of downpours?
Scotland is still reeling from torrential downpours over the weekend. Roads were left underwater, bus services were forced to divert, and parts of the rail network shut down as a result of three yellow weather warnings in a row.
For three days straight, much of the country saw huge volumes of rainfall in a short amount of time. Fifteen areas got put under flood alert as a result of the deluge, while thunder and lightning posed a danger to life.
The last warning was lifted at 6am today, Tuesday, July 22, and it is hoped the elements will be more settled going forward. After all, we are in the height of summer, and it would be nice for the Scottish weather to reflect that.
So, after the downpours, is there a chance of a heatwave returning to Scotland? Aidan McGivern, Met Office meteorologist, has categorically ruled out a heatwave. But only for this week.
Looking ahead, WXCharts, a weather forecast model that uses MetDesk data, has set out August 1 as the date Scots should keep an eye on if they're hoping to ditch the umbrella for a sun hat, and the raincoat for some sun cream.
On this date, the max temperature will hit 23C at around 6pm. The next day, highs of 20C are predicted for around 12pm, while on Sunday, the thermometer is due to ping at a high 18C, again at around tea time.
However, although August 1 will be toasty, there is certain criteria the Scottish weather needs to meet to tip us into heatwave territory. And it doesn't quite look that we will meet it just yet.
In the UK, a heatwave officially takes place when a location records at least three days in a row with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold. This threshold varies across the UK.
For instance, if Dundee records 25 degrees over three consecutive days, that would be classed as a heatwave.
As the first weekend in August doesn't stay steady at 23C - instead dipping down to 20C and 18C - it appears unlikely to happen.
The Met Office's long range forecast for July 27 until August 5 says the best chance we have of seeing the sun is if we're in the south and east. The southwest may have a look in, too, but only if high pressure builds into that area.
Other than that, the outlook isn't all that convincing, either. "A weather regime dominated by westerly winds is likely at first," the Met Office statement reads.
"While showers or longer spells of rain will remain possible for all parts early in the period, the focus of wet weather will likely increasingly be focussed across the west and northwest, especially over hills where rain could be prolonged.
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"The highest chance of drier and sunnier weather is expected to the east of hills, and across south and eastern areas. Later in the period, if high pressure builds into the southwest, settled weather may develop there, too.
"It will be breezy at times, especially further north.
"Temperatures are most likely to be near to average or slightly above average for the time of year."
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