Soaring temperatures bring out the sun worshippers as Scots flock to the beach
Mercury soared above 25C across vast tracts of the country, prompting crowds of Scots to flock to beauty spots like Luss, by Loch Lomond, and Portobello beach, in Edinburgh.
As the first heatwave to hit Scotland in nearly two years arrived, no time was lost in soaking up the glorious conditions by cracking out swimsuits, packing picnics, and staking out sunbathing spots.
Temperatures even pushed 30C in some areas, with highs of 28C recorded along the Moray Coast.
The scorching weather triggered a string of warnings from experts and emergency services, who stressed the risks of the soaring mercury for a nation that is more used to wet weather.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service shared an 'extreme' wildfire warning for the centre and east of the country, while Police Scotland issued anti-social behaviour warnings for young people visiting Loch Lomond and the surrounding areas.
Scottish Water also stressing the risks of accidental drowning at lochs, rivers and beaches across the country and Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin even urged Scottish sunbathers to avoid stripping off to sunbathe.
Highlighting the dangers of overexposure to the sun, he said: 'I know people want to go 'taps aff' - but I would really advise against that'.
However, the heatwave received a far warmer welcome from the crowds of Scots who are travelling to major outdoor events over the weekend.
Thousands arrived in Orkney and the Hebrides for the Island Games and the Tiree Music Festival respectively.
The Island Games' competitors and volunteers alone are set to increase Orkney's population by almost 10 per cent, while many more spectators will also head north to watch the event.
Further south, around 150,000 music-lovers started descending on Glasgow Green for the three-day TRNSMT festival and more than 70,000 spectators arrived in North Berwick for the Genesis Scottish Open golf tournament.
Health bosses in Glasgow encouraged festival-goers to 'have a fantastic time' but urged them to take extra precautions for the hot weather.
Dr Emilia Crighton, director of public health at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: 'This weekend is looking like a great time to get outside for warmer weather.
'We know tens of thousands of people will be heading to TRSNMT, and we hope everyone has a fantastic time. We ask festival-goers to look after themselves and others so everyone can enjoy the event safely.
STV meteorologist Sean Batty echoed: 'With school holidays under way and events like TRNSMT, the Tiree Music Festival, and Orkney hosting the International Island Games, it's essential to take precautions if you're spending time outdoors. Use high-factor sunscreen, stay hydrated, and be mindful of the risk of heatstroke.'
Meanwhile, officers were forced to smash the windows of a car to rescue two dogs suffering from heatstroke on Friday.
But help came too late for the pair, who died shortly after they were freed.
Members of the public raised the alarm at 1pm when they spotted a distressed Maltese and an Alsatian Lurcher Cross locked in a sweltering car in Linwood, Paisley.
With temperatures starting to soar on Thursday, the car's interior could have heated to 40C or higher - far above the safe threshold for dogs.
Officers rushed the animals to a nearby vet's but both were declared dead on arrival.
A 53-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman have been referred to the Procurator Fiscal and now face charges under animal cruelty offences.
With the heatwave set to intensify over the weekend, Police Scotland is urging animal-lovers to take extra precautions to keep their dogs safe in hot weather.
The Scottish SPCA warned that owners should avoid leaving dogs in cars at all costs, stressing that 'best way to avoid heat stroke or worse is to not risk it'.
A spokesman said: 'Even in the shade, temperatures can rise very quickly inside a vehicle. Leaving a bowl of water or leaving the window open is not enough to prevent your pet suffering from heat stroke or cardiac arrest.'
He continued: 'Whether you are nipping to the shop or going out for a few hours, it is not worth taking the chance. Leaving an animal in a hot car can have fatal consequences and lead to prosecution.'
Equal caution should be taken when walking dogs in hot weather, as more dogs die from hot walks than in hot cars.
The spokesman said: 'As a rule of thumb, you can walk your dog at any temperature below 20°C. Remember, the hotter the temperature, the higher the risk to your dog.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Greece battles wildfires across country, evacuates villages
DROSOPIGI, Greece July 26 (Reuters) - Firefighters were battling wildfires near Athens and across Greece on Saturday as the Mediterranean country sweltered under the third heatwave of the summer, with some villages and settlements being evacuated. Explosions could be heard as huge clouds of smoke covered Drosopigi village 25 km north of Athens, where factories with flammable material are located. Helicopters dropped water and 65 firefighters battled the flames, assisted by 26 vehicles and two aircraft. Two houses caught fire, according to state ERT television, while residents of nearby village Krioneri were instructed by authorities to leave towards Athens. Temperatures in Greece were forecast to reach up to 44 degrees Celsius on Saturday, the Greek weather service said. On the island of Evia, 115 firefighters and 24 vehicles were deployed to put out fires, assisted by six aircraft and seven helicopters, but strong winds were hampering their efforts. Residents of the island's Triada area were told to be ready in case they needed to leave. The fire on Evia is the latest in a series of bushfires stoked by strong winds and dry conditions this month. On the island of Kythera, authorities evacuated the villages of Aroniadika, Pitsinades and Aryoi. In the area of Messinia, west of Athens, residents of the Kryoneri and Sellas villages were also told to leave. These sites were on a list of Greek regions on high alert for wildfires due to record-breaking temperatures and strong winds due on Saturday. Tourism is a key earner in Greece, and the fires have hit since the start of the peak summer holiday season early in July. Greece and other Mediterranean countries are in an area dubbed "a wildfire hotspot" by scientists, with blazes common during hot and dry summers. These have become more destructive in recent years due to a fast-changing climate, prompting calls for a new approach.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Sewage leak at Aberdeen beach leads to swimming warning
People are being advised to avoid swimming and paddling at Aberdeen beach after sewage was discharged into the spill happened during a power outage at Nigg Waste Water Treatment Works, which also caused a power cut in the area on Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said power had been restored but confirmed sewage was discharged into the sea close to Aberdeen harbour.A spokesperson said its "temporary guidance" was to avoid bathing in the area until it was satisfied that the situation had returned to normal.
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Father Christmas' official Lapland home suffers unseasonal heatwave with 31C temperatures and wildfire fears
Father Christmas ' official home village in Lapland has suffered a record-breaking heatwave, as fears mount that wildfires will ravage the area with increasing frequency. The Arctic city of Rovaniemi in northern Finland, Lapland's capital and home to Santa Claus, has been melting amid unprecedented heat in the region. Lapland, which is 500km above the Arctic Circle, has seen temperatures soar to 31C, more than 10C above the seasonal average. The level of consistent heat has never been experienced in the region before and reindeer have even been forced to flee into roads and villages to escape mosquitos. A heatwave in Finland is defined as at least three days in a row where the temperature exceeds 25C. Friday was the 14th consecutive day that temperatures climbed past 30C in the country - the first time since record began in 1961, the Finnish Meteorological Institute said. Ylitornio and Sodankylä recorded the highest temperatures of 31.7C in Lapland earlier this week, while wildfires have ripped through the wilderness north of Rovaniemi. Lapland is a sparsely populated region and fires can burn for long periods before help arrives. But emergency services responded to dozens of incidents this week, including smoke sightings, building fires, and wildfires. Some schools and nurseries have seen outdoor activities cancelled and health officials have told people to stay hydrated in Rovaniemi. The excessively hot weather has sparked added concern about climate change in the Arctic. The polar region is heating up five times quicker than the global average, the UNs intergovernmental panel on climate change said. 'Due to climate change, these sorts of heatwaves in Lapland are expected to become longer and more intensive over this century, Ville Siiskonen, of the Finnish Meteorological Institute, told The Telegraph. Finland is not alone in feeling the heat as scorching temperatures continue to boil Europe, with two people dying in Cyprus as wildfires raged through the country. The Acropolis in Athens was also closed as temperatures soared past 40C. Meanwhile, England and Spain recorded their hottest ever June's last month. The Met Office said June's mean temperature of 16.9C was a record,while Spain's average of 23.6C 'pulverised records', the national weather service Aemet said.
