Latest news with #JoyDunlop
Scottish Sun
23-07-2025
- Climate
- Scottish Sun
When the warmer weather will return to Scotland as experts reveal heatwave prediction
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SCOTS are still recovering from last weekend's deluge of torrential downpours and thunderstorms, which caused flooding chaos over the last few days. Parts of the country saw two weeks' worth of rain fall in just one hour as extreme weather gripped the nation. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Heavy rain has battered Scotland over the last few days Credit: Alamy 5 And it caused flooding chaos on Scotland's roads 5 Some railway lines were left completely submerged in water 5 And it has left many hoping to see another heatwave over summer Credit: Alamy The Met Office issued three back-to-back yellow warnings that lasted from Friday through to Tuesday, and on Monday SEPA issued a total of 16 flood alerts and three flood warnings. Forecasters warned there was a chance of fast-flowing or deep floodwater as thunderstorms posed 'a danger to life'. The torrential rain was so severe in some areas that roads and rail lines were left completely submerged, and in other places some locals were forced to use paddleboards to get around towns. So it's no wonder that many Scots will be hoping to see some more sunshine now that we're at the peak time of summer. And what better way to get over a soggy end to July than to start August with a sizzling heatwave? With that in mind, weather experts have looked ahead to see what weather we can expect next month and have revealed their predictions on if there is another heatwave on the horizon. Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern told the Daily Record that there currently isn't another heatwave on the cards for Scots. BBC forecasters have also ruled out any hopes of heatwave conditions this week as they shared their latest forecast. Weather presenter Joy Dunlop revealed that we can expect warm but cloudy weather with some light rains in some areas today and tomorrow. She said: "A more settled day of weather to come as high pressure builds in the west. It's a mild start again this morning. Four dead after cases of rare flesh-eating bacteria spike in US vacation hotspot – all swimmers need to use caution "A cloudy one, with early showers in the north-west Highlands, to light rain and drizzle in the south east. "Plenty of early brightness in the south west, but that won't last as cloud fills for most of the day, sunshine in short supply. "Still feeling warm over central and southern spots with highs of 21C and 22C, cooler in the north with a north-westerly wind and more of a breeze developing there. "Tonight, for many, will stay dry and cloudy. We do have more on-the-move clear spells developing, and cloud could be thick enough for some light rain and drizzle almost anywhere but especially in the north. "Another mild, humid night to come with generally light winds. What needs to happen for Scotland to officially experience a heatwave? THERE is certain criteria that the Scottish weather needs to meet before it offically becomes a heatwave. Experts at the Met Office have revealed that in the UK, a location needs to record three days above a 'temperature threshold' for it to be official. This threshold is calculated using the average daily maximum temperature on July 15 between 1991 and 2020 - and varies across the country depending on where it is. For Scotland, the threshold is 25C. This means that for the country to officially experience a heatwave, the mercury levels must be 25C or higher for at least three consecutive days. The highest temperature ever recorded in Scotland was 34.8C. This was measured at Charterhall in the Scottish Borders during a heatwave on July 19 back in 2022. Heatwaves are usually caused by high-pressure systems and are common in the UK during the summer. This is because of the position of the jet stream during these months. "Tomorrow will bring more in the way of sunshine and particularly latterly in the west. "Cloud lingering for some, and that could produce some light rain and drizzle at times, but it will be feeling that wee bit warmer." However, that doesn't mean that things won't heat up in the coming weeks. According to weather maps, things are set to turn a corner on August 1, with parts of the country to see temperatures reach as high as 23C on this date. Data from WXCharts shows that by 6pm, the mercury levels could climb into the low-20s before dropping slightly to 20C. And on August 2, it could still remain at a lovely 18C around the mid-afternoon into the early evening. The Met Office's long-range forecast for July 27 until August 5 states that those in the south and east will have the best chance of seeing sunshine. It states: "A weather regime dominated by westerly winds is likely at first. "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 focused across the west and northwest, especially over hills where rain could be prolonged. "The highest chance of drier and sunnier weather is expected to the east of hills, and across south and eastern areas. There is a chance of some very warm or hot spells developing later in August if high pressure wins out for a decent stretch of time Met Office long-range forecast "Later in the period, if high pressure builds into the southwest, settled weather may develop there too. It will be breezy at times, especially in further north. "Temperatures are most likely to be near to average or slightly above average for the time of year." But the weather service revealed that things could heat up in the middle of the month with a chance of "some very warm or hot spells" to come. It's forecast for August 6 until August 20 states: "A changeable westerly pattern will likely continue through into the start of August, with spells of rain or showers mixed in with some drier, brighter days. "There are signs that high pressure to the southwest may try to extend its influence across the UK, which could bring more in the way of dry, settled weather as we head further into August. "Temperatures will likely continue to be near or above average overall. "There is a chance of some very warm or hot spells developing later in August if high pressure wins out for a decent stretch of time, especially in the south and east."
Sunday Post
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday Post
Joy Dunlop on her unconventional journey into world of trad music
Get a weekly round-up of stories from The Sunday Post: Thank you for signing up to our Sunday Post newsletter. Something went wrong - please try again later. Sign Up When an old man stopped her as she was leaving a rehearsal for her Gaelic men's choir in Oban, Joy Dunlop was knackered. She had been up since 3am for work and knew she wouldn't be back home before 11pm. What he said made it all worth it though. 'He wanted to tell me that singing in the choir gave him something to live for,' said Joy. 'He was in his 80s and he was retired, so he didn't see people that often. I do Gaelic things for work, but the choral stuff I do for fun and it has become one of my favourite things. 'That might mean long days, but I have never regretted it. We are working on something together and that invigorates me.' Joy's Gaelic journey If you watch Joy presenting the weather on BBC, spot her handing out awards at the Royal National Mòd, or listen to one of her many albums, it might shock you to know that she wasn't born into a family of Gaelic speakers. 'When I was nine, the Mòd came to Oban and children in the area were encouraged to take part in it – I'm from Connel,' explained Joy. 'We had a woman from Islay who was a native speaker and she said if anyone would like to compete she would teach us. We had a wee choir, I think it must have been pretty much the whole school. 'That was my first understanding of Gaelic. We didn't have it in primary and I didn't have it in the family.' The more she learned, the more she enjoyed it, but even as she grew older, Joy didn't see Gaelic as something she could build a career around. She said: 'When I went to secondary school, everyone had to do French then we chose between Gaelic and German. 'Back then, which is not that long ago, it wasn't seen as a career option, so I didn't think of it as one; the assumption was that it wasn't for me because I didn't naturally have Gaelic. 'Instead of sixth year I went to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, then I was going to go and study medicine. But something just clicked for me and I ended up not leaving. 'I did a whole degree and I have been involved with Gaelic in some way ever since.' Career in Gaelic Joy went on to work in Gaelic language and culture development. As the only person working in her area, with no budget, she was able to take on whatever challenge she set herself. Hooked on the freedom, she eventually went freelance, taking on work in TV and radio, hosting, the music industry and more. 'A lot of people ask 'what are you?' in terms of my job and they want me to be one thing,' said Joy. 'But I have never been one thing and have always felt really lucky in that. I never want to be put in a box. 'Gaelic is a really useful skill and you pick up all these other skills as a result. If you are happy to put in the leg work and make things happen, there are opportunities out there.' Though Joy's calendar is now full of events, festivals, talks, choir rehearsals, gigs, recording and more, it hasn't always been easy to find work. Joy said: 'When I started, it was hard. People didn't know who I was and the Gaelic world is a small one – everyone knows everyone. I came from the mainland and from a non-Gaelic family. 'I graduated [as] the most enthusiastic person you could ever meet and all of a sudden, I encountered folk who said I wasn't a Gael and said I couldn't do it. 'You either react to that by letting it sink in and you stop, or by saying 'I'll show you'. If I know I can do something, I want to show people I can do it. I still get people trying to pull the authenticity card and saying they are more traditional than me, but I can't do anything about that. 'I can't help where I came from, but I can be as good as I can be. I can listen, learn and take feedback. 'I will be learning to the day I die, but I don't think that is a bad thing.' Celebrating the language Joy's unconventional path to Gaelic is the inspiration for today's Rebellious Truth talk at Edinburgh Tradfest; No Wrong Path: A Gaelic Learning Journey. She hopes it will encourage others to learn Gaelic. One way she suggests doing that is through music. © Kris Kesiak 'Learning any language is so daunting at first,' said Joy. 'Music is a universal language. We're a bit more used to listening to songs in a different language – we sing along even if we aren't sure what the artist is saying. 'Nowadays it is so easy to access music, and I think through that there is more exploration of new genres like trad music. 'I grew up learning all the really traditional Gaelic songs, but at home I was boogying away to pop. The fact you can now combine the two and play around with the culture and heritage while still respecting it is so healthy to me. 'If you go into a conversation and everyone is speaking a language you don't understand, you are automatically barred. 'If you go to a festival, it doesn't matter, you can still jump around and enjoy being part of an experience with other people. It's the community, the friendships, the experience. 'Music is so good for the soul.' Through the generations With a huge range of ages in her Gaelic choirs, Joy said she has noticed a real difference in the younger generations taking more of an interest in their culture and heritage. In her eyes, overcoming the barrier of fear when it comes to learning something new is the first step in discovering a whole new sense of community. 'Learning from scratch as an adult makes you feel very off-kilter because it's something you can't do,' said Joy. 'But you have to get past that really awkward panic when you don't know what to say and your mind goes blank. If you can, it is hugely rewarding. You don't have to be a singer or a Gaelic speaker to join a Gaelic choir, it's just about coming together and singing with other people. The physicality of raising your voice with someone else is good for every part of you. 'No one is going to die if you make a mistake, no one is going to laugh at you. I think for years we have not been very good as Scots; it's not natural for us to self-promote, it makes us feel uncomfortable. 'I did trad music at school and I was very much in the minority, it was not seen as a cool thing. 'All of a sudden, people are realising it is cool to be speaking Gaelic and doing trad music. 'I think the community element is so strong, but also in general Scottish identity is just getting better. 'We are more proud of our language, our heritage, our culture than ever.' Scottish pride in the USA There may still be work to do to encourage Scots to shout about their heritage and culture, but in the meantime, Joy said plenty of people are doing it for them. 'I am just back from Tartan Week in New York,' she said. 'It's the third time I have been over and I think there is something unbelievably special about it, the parade in particular. When you are going down Fifth Avenue and there are pipe bands and kilts; it is almost like an Americanised Scottish celebration. 'The first time I did it, people were laughing watching me because I was the most excited person there has ever been in a parade, waving my little flag and wearing my tartan. Never would I think of parading down Oban high street – it's not the kind of thing we do – but it felt like the most natural thing in the world to be in this huge multicultural city. 'We had a spot there that was ours, we were being highlighted and promoted. I think we all do it, I am definitely more Scottish when I am not in Scotland.' © Supplied by BBC Alba She added: 'I think those of us speaking Gaelic are often scared to say 'this is us' because it used to mean we were poor, or from the countryside and not civilised enough – we were so much the underdog. 'But we are good enough. You now see things like Harris Tweed on the catwalk. What we produce is beautiful and world-class.' Joy's Rebellious Truth talk will take place at Traverse Theatre from 2pm today or live stream for free on YouTubeYouTube Find out more at
