Latest news with #GrahameMadge
The National
17-05-2025
- Climate
- The National
Scottish weather: Why is it so warm in Scotland in May?
The National reached out to climate change experts and meteorologists to explain the recent sunny spells and whether or not they point to a wider issue related to global warming. Grahame Madge from the Met Office explained the simple, meteorological causes behind the warmth in Scotland. He said: 'We have been sitting under an area of high pressure for some time and this is the pattern we will have for a further week. 'These are known as blocking highs because they become dominant and generally prevent other low-pressure weather systems from making any progress toward the UK. 'So in effect they 'block' or shield us from unsettled weather.' READ MORE: Sunday Times Rich List sparks fresh calls for wealth tax Is this the new normal? In a conversation with Edward Graham, a climate and water vapour expert and lecturer at the University of the Highlands and Islands, he explained that until the month is over, the statistics we've seen so far regarding dryness are only provisional. He said: 'It's easy to get swayed by statistics that go 'dry as this' 'hot as that', but it's not unusual. 'The driest part of the year is March, April, May and June in terms of precipitation; the sunniest month of the year, particularly in the west of Scotland, tends to be May. 'There's still a long time left, and there's signs that the rain might come back towards the end of the month, in which case the statistics are only provisional. 'And to be honest, you know the rain will come. It might not come just yet, but we can be certain that in Glasgow and the West Highlands, the rain will come.' Whilst the recent sunshine isn't a particular cause for concern, being more of an 'anomalous fine spell', Graham explained that having constant, successive dry months creates what's known as a 'cumulative effect', where we then start to see more extreme weather and feel the health and structural impacts of climate change. (Image: Colin Mearns)These include increases in mortality rates due to extreme heat, and ecological and infrastructural issues. Such issues could be the drying of riverbeds, issues with roads, bridges and houses that were not designed to withstand the Earth heating up, and the destruction of ecosystems which haven't had a chance to adapt to the climate changing so quickly. Graham explained: 'These systems have been designed over the decades to cope with the climate in the past, not necessarily a climate which is in this moving frame of reference, that of a climate that's happening now and one in the future. 'So the risk of hazards is continuously increasing as a result of that.' A certain degree of resilience is required, not just by ecosystems, but by humans too to cope with a changing climate. READ MORE: Abandoned lynx move to new home in the Highlands Graham noted that, while everyone should try to be 'as green as possible' on an individual level, there is more of an onus on governments and oil and business giants to adhere to their 'moral and ethical duties'. He said: 'There is a particularly strong onus on governments and those who can make a real change. I'm talking about leaders in the oil industry and leaders in business. 'It's the failure of big business, big oil industry, to live up to its ethical and moral duties. That's the problem — it's an ethical problem. 'It's quite easy to make a change to renewable energies. It would be a win-win situation — it would help stop climate change, and make the earth a lot greener. There'd be a lot less pollution, and we'd have investments in new technology. 'Green technologies are highly advanced and we could use AI to do this, but there's a sort of inertia amongst business and conservatism that when you get wealthy, what do you want? You just want more.'
Scottish Sun
27-04-2025
- Climate
- Scottish Sun
Scotland braced for 22C sunshine in days as weather map turns red
It's thought that weather records could be broken amid a hot spell FEELING THE HEAT Scotland braced for 22C sunshine in days as weather map turns red SCOTLAND is poised for its sunniest April on record with 22C sunshine forecast within days. With four days left to add to the current total, we need just over 28 hours of sunshine before midnight on Wednesday to eclipse the 214.5 weather record set in 2021. 3 Crowds flocked to Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh to enjoy the sunshine Credit: Alamy 3 Roasting hot weather brings the crowds out to Portobello Beach Credit: Andrew Barr And with long spells of blue sky weather forecast for the coming days, it's almost certain we'll smash the second-best record from 2020, of 203.7 hours. Should the records be broken, it would mean that the three sunniest Aprils in history have all happened since 2020. Forecaster Grahame Madge of the Met Office said: 'We are definitely noticing a trend towards more sunshine reaching the UK, though it is not an exact science.' Tomorrow should see an end to the showery weather which featured across Scotland at the weekend, with things really picking up by Tuesday, when the BBC Weather Service predicts sunshine and highs of 21C (70F). The Borders town of Kelso is expected to hit 22C (72F) on Wednesday, the final day of a very sunny April. Rather than holding global warming responsible, climate change experts believe Scotland's sunny Aprils could be down to pollution levels falling in the world's shipping lanes. Bob Ward, of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, said: 'I think we can put the increase in sunshine levels - in part - down to cleaner air in the UK and Northern Europe. 'The global shipping industry is now working towards cleaner standards and that could be having a major impact on our weather. 'There is less particulate matter in the atmosphere and we are seeing a trend in the UK to more sunshine all year round.' It may not be a coincidence, therefore, that the three sunniest Aprils have happened within the last five years. In 2020 and 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic brought to a halt much of the world's transport. Ships didn't sail, planes remained on the ground and people were unable to use their vehicles due to government-led restrictions. What followed in April 2020 was the second-sunniest April on record in Scotland, followed by the unprecedented 214.5 hours of sunshine a year later, when COVID restrictions were still in place. The Met Office State of the Climate report last summer said the decade between 2014 and 2023 had four per cent more hours of sunshine each year than the average between 1991 and 2020. Compared to the period 1961-1990, the sunshine hours increase was nine per cent.
Daily Mirror
27-04-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
UK weather today: Sunday scorcher forecast as Britain will be hotter than sunny Crete
New weather maps from Ventusky show huge swathes of the UK basking in temperatures reaching the high teens today ahead of a mini-heatwave next week, which could see the mercury hit 27C Brits are in for a scorcher today as the country is set to see temperatures hotter than Crete. After a mixed week of sunshine and rainy conditions due to a low pressure system, Sunday is forecast to usher in next week's mini-heatwave when the mercury is predicted to rise to highs of 27C and above from Tuesday. It comes as a high pressure system begins to dominate the British Isles. A weather graphic from Ventusky shows the majority of the UK covered with an orange glow, representing temperatures teetering around the 20C mark. The warm temperatures will reach as high as Newcastle in the northeast and Southampton in the south, with the majority of England enjoying the balmy conditions at 4pm tomorrow. Meanwhile, on the Greek island of Crete - which is known for its year-round warmth - average temperatures are expected to hit 19C. But Sunday will be cool considering what's on the way for the rest of the week. The warmest areas on Tuesday will be in the north and north east, where highs of 24C are predicted. On Wednesday, the north will continue to be hot as the south and south east begin to heat up. By Thursday, a much wider area of the country will see highs in the mid 20s, with the south being the hottest, according to new weather maps from WXCharts. On Friday, a map shows the mercury surging to 27C in London and the southeast around midday. As the hours roll on, the hottest area will have shot up the country with the northwest of England and the Welsh borders hitting 27C. The predictions have been echoed by the Met Office, which says temperatures of 27C will appear "quite widely", calling out London, Berkshire, Hampshire, Kent and East Anglia as the hottest locations. BBC weather forecaster Elizabeth Rizzini explained: "There is another warm spell on the way, temperatures will be building to well above the seasonal average. Why? Well because we are drawing in a southerly wind and that warmer air moving in from the near continent and it is going to be widespread so all four national will see temperatures in the low 20Cs at least, maybe the mid 20Cs for some, maybe 27C on Wednesday for southeast England. Well above the seasonal average which is just 12C to 15C.' Grahame Madge, a Met Office spokesperson, said: 'This would always have been a naturally warm spell. However, with the footprint of climate change, you can expect it to add a degree or so to the values that we would have expected. 'So, it's likely that the temperatures for this event will be slightly higher. At the moment, it looks as though we're probably not going to see heatwave conditions met.' According to the Met Office, the definition of a heatwave is three consecutive days of temperatures exceeding the 'heatwave threshold', which varies across the country. The threshold is 25C for most of the UK, with slightly higher numbers for the south and east, and rising to 28C in London. Mr Madge said any chance of a heatwave depends on the progress of a cold front which is expected to move south. 'Now, as that front moves south, it will be pulling in cooler air behind it. Not cold air, but cooler air,' he said. 'That will clip temperatures. So, there's a lot of emphasis on when this cold front will start to move and how much progress it will make during Thursday.' Before that dry and sunny conditions are expected for the thousands taking part in the TCS London Marathon on Sunday, with highs of 22C forecast for the capital.
Daily Mirror
26-04-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
UK Weather: Where heatwave will hit Brits as maps turn red
Brits are facing a wave of hotter weather and maps show the areas of the country which are set to see the highest temperatures which could rise up to the high 20Cs and peak at 28C Brits are set for balmy conditions next week with the mercury rising to 28C and you can find out here how warm it will reach in your area. We have had a week of sunshine and showers in the UK where low pressure systems have moved in to bring some rain while temperatures have remained generally pleasant in the mid to high teens. And it will be a similar theme going into the weekend but by Sunday and the mercury will begin to ratchet up as a high pressure system begins to dominate. According to the latest forecasts, Brits can expect heatwave temperatures of 25C and above from Tuesday. 'There is another warm spell on the way, temperatures will be building to well above the seasonal average," said BBC weather forecaster Elizabeth Rizzini. "Why? Well because we are drawing in a southerly wind and that warmer air moving in from the near continent and it is going to be widespread so all four national will see temperatures in the low 20Cs at least, maybe the mid 20Cs for some, maybe 27C on Wednesday for southeast England. Well above the seasonal average which is just 12C to 15C.' Maps from WXCharts show the warmest areas being in the north and north east next Tuesday where it could reach 24C and then the following day Wednesday, April 30 it remains similarly hot in the north while the south and south east sees the mercury rise. Going into the Thursday and the charts predict a wider area of hot weather with most of England in the mid 20Cs with the mercury highest in the south. And then for Friday a map shows the temperature rising to 28C in London and the southeast at around midday, while by 6pm the hottest area will have moved to the northwest of England and onto the border with Wales where it will again be 28C. The Met Office is also predicting temperatures in midweek rising to 27C 'quite widely', most likely in London, Berkshire, Hampshire, and possibly Kent and East Anglia. Grahame Madge, a Met Office spokesperson, said: 'This would always have been a naturally warm spell. However, with the footprint of climate change, you can expect it to add a degree or so to the values that we would have expected. 'So, it's likely that the temperatures for this event will be slightly higher. At the moment, it looks as though we're probably not going to see heatwave conditions met.' According to the Met Office, the definition of a heatwave is three consecutive days of temperatures exceeding the 'heatwave threshold', which varies across the country. The threshold is 25C for most of the UK, with slightly higher numbers for the south and east, and rising to 28C in London. Mr Madge said any chance of a heatwave depends on the progress of a cold front which is expected to move south. 'Now, as that front moves south, it will be pulling in cooler air behind it. Not cold air, but cooler air,' he said. 'That will clip temperatures. So, there's a lot of emphasis on when this cold front will start to move and how much progress it will make during Thursday.' Before that dry and sunny conditions are expected for the thousands taking part in the TCS London Marathon on Sunday, with highs of 22C forecast for the capital.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Spring's hot weather to be treat for nature lovers
With what's being called a mini-heatwave looming for the UK, it's not just humans looking forward to warmer weather. The warm spell is expected to give a temporary boost to nature as migratory birds arrive from afar and butterflies stretch their wings. The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) says a succession of milder winters and wetter springs are all contributing to change in the natural world. But a brief warm spell won't make much difference overall, and could be a bonus for nature lovers. "On the plus side, better weather is more inviting for us to get out and enjoy the spring. Dawn chorus is at its peak at the minute and calm, warm mornings are perfect for enjoying it! " says Jon Carter of the BTO. The Met Office says a brief spell of warmth at the end of April isn't a bad thing for wildlife - and there shouldn't be much impact on water sources such as ponds. "Climate change is already having a big impact on our wildlife, but a temporary blip like this is an end of April dividend for wildlife," says the Met Office's Grahame Madge. The warmer weather will accentuate the joys of seeing wildlife, such as butterflies and birds, he adds. The peacock and short tortoiseshell are among the first to spread their wings, with more butterflies emerging from April onwards. Dragonflies start to be seen around this time, too. Summer visitors, such as swallows and swifts, can expect to find a plentiful food supply, with insects on the wing. There could also be some sightings of rare visitors such as the exotic European bee-eater, which have recently begun nesting in the UK. Wildlife charities say it's a great time to get out and about and enjoy nature, but people should be on their guard against accidentally starting a fire. Oliver Fry of Surrey Wildlife Trust says conditions are incredibly dry on the heathlands of Surrey, which creates "tinderbox conditions". The wild, flat landscapes dotted with gorse and heather are known for their wildlife, including rare species like the sand lizard, woodlark and silver-studded blue butterfly. Earlier this month conservationists warned that some of the UK's rarest wildlife is being "torched alive" and pushed closer to extinction after weeks of intense grass fires. Anne McCall, director of RSPB Scotland, says climate change is driving more regular wildfires of greater intensity, and especially so in spring. "It is not just vegetation that gets destroyed by wildfire," she says. "This is a critical time of year for our native wildlife – with birds nesting and other animals such as amphibians and reptiles coming out of winter dormancy and starting to breed." On the coasts, conservation experts say there has been a crop of sightings of whales and dolphins close to British shores – and though it's difficult to pin down a reason, warming seas and climate change are likely to be a factor. "Seeing whales and dolphins in the wild is always an awesome experience but seeing more of them, and more unusual species around UK coast may not be such a good thing," says Danny Groves from the charity Whale and Dolphin Conservation. Heatwaves and increases in sea temperatures can cause some whales to roam far from their usual areas just to survive, he adds. Follow Helen on X and on Bluesky.
