Scotland braced for two days of thunderstorms as Met Office issues nationwide warning
Most of the weather-based news this week has been positive, with searing temperatures forecast across Scotland. There have even been predictions of certain areas hitting 30C today.
But the Met Office has brought the nation back down with a bang this morning as they issued yellow weather warnings for thunderstorms which could cause a "danger to life".
While the national forecaster reckons we might hit 30C today, August 13, the heat and humidity is also expected to cause stormy weather up and down the country.
A yellow warning for thunderstorms has been issued for most of Scotland from 2pm today and lasting until midnight. It stretches from the Borders to Orkney, encompassing most of the country.
Only the south-west of Scotland, as well as some parts of the west coast and a pocket in the north east around Aberdeen, look set to avoid the wild weather today.
But, come midnight, the yellow warning goes nationwide. Running until 10pm tomorrow, August 14, the alert area includes all of Scotland, stretching as far north as Shetland.
Difficult driving conditions, some power cuts and delays to public transport should be expected, with sudden flooding also possible. Damage to buildings from floodwater could also occur, according to the forecaster.
And the Met Office has said that deep or fast flowing floodwater could pose a "danger to life" in the worst-hit areas. It comes as humidity and scorching temperatures are predicted today, which are the perfect recipe for storms to brew.
A piping 28C is expected in Glasgow at the hottest point this afternoon, which is predicted to be in the afternoon, when the initial thunderstorm warning has just come into force.
At this time, the Met Office predicts toasty temperatures of 26C in much of the Highlands, 25C in and around Edinburgh and a cooler 21C in Aberdeen.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Dan Suri explained ahead of the warnings: 'Wednesday brings a more complex picture, with high temperatures but also the chance of thunderstorms arriving in the evening.
'During Wednesday daytime, temperatures could peak at 34C, with the heat shifting eastwards into east England, while parts of Scotland could also see temperatures above 30C. By the evening, there is an increased risk of thunderstorms across northern areas, with the potential for some fairly wet weather."
It comes after a period of very unsettled weather, which brought us Storm Floris last Monday, August 4. Severe amber wind warnings were put in place for much of Scotland, and record-breaking winds reached up to 85mph.
Thousands of homes were also left powerless due to damage from the high winds and rain brought by the storm. The Met Office has warned that the erratic weather we've been seeing recently is directly linked to climate change, which is causing rising temperatures, more rainfall and more frequent storms.
The new State of the UK Climate report was published in July by Wiley in the Royal Meteorological Society's 'International Journal of Climatology'. It showed that the last three years have been in the top five warmest on record for the UK, with records beginning in 1884.
This concerning report also detailed a spike in severe weather and storms up until the end of last year, which caused widespread damage and several deaths.
The UK saw widespread flooding in 2024 caused by storms Babet, Ciarán, Debi, Elin, Fergus, Gerrit, Henk, Isha and Jocelyn, and parts of Eastern Scotland in particular were affected.
Regions and local authorities affected by the Met Office weather warnings:
Central, Tayside & Fife
Angus
Clackmannanshire
Dundee
Falkirk
Fife
Perth and Kinross
Stirling
Grampian
Aberdeen
Aberdeenshire
Moray
Highlands & Eilean Siar
Na h-Eileanan Siar
Highland
Orkney & Shetland
Orkney Islands
Shetland Islands
SW Scotland, Lothian Borders
Dumfries and Galloway
East Lothian
Edinburgh
Midlothian Council
Scottish Borders
West Lothian
Strathclyde
Argyll and Bute
East Ayrshire
East Dunbartonshire
East Renfrewshire
Glasgow
Inverclyde
North Ayrshire
North Lanarkshire
Renfrewshire
South Ayrshire
South Lanarkshire
West Dunbartonshire
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