From Aberdeen to Loch Ness, Scots ditch jackets and flock outdoors as temperatures soar far above seasonal norms.
Suncream, sunglasses, and stunned silence — that’s what much of Scotland looked like on June 20 as the mercury shot up to 28.9°C in Drumnadrochit, marking the country’s hottest day of the year so far. Normally, the average for this time in June hovers around a mellow 17°C. This? This was sweltering.
By late afternoon, nearly the whole country was basking (or melting) in sunshine. Aboyne hit 28.7°C. So did Charterhall. Edinburgh reached 28.4°C, while Glasgow simmered at 27.3°C — only a degree or so shy of the capital, but with double the sweat thanks to the concrete.
Drumnadrochit and the Day the Highlands Felt Like the Med
The hottest point in Scotland wasn’t Glasgow or the Borders. It was Drumnadrochit, nestled by the shores of Loch Ness, that topped the charts at a toasty 28.9°C. A sleepy highland village that usually sees tourists wrapped in windbreakers, suddenly became the kind of place where sandals felt appropriate.
You could smell sun cream in the Co-op. Locals cracked open folding chairs they didn’t remember owning. Tourists, already sunburned, wondered aloud if this counted as tropical.
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This wasn’t just unusual. It was borderline surreal. Highland heatwaves are rare. This kind of warmth without a breeze? Even rarer.
Where Else the Heat Hit — and How High It Climbed
It wasn’t just one rogue thermometer. Temperatures soared across the board, hitting above 28°C in multiple locations. Here’s a quick look at some of the day’s most notable highs:
| Location | Temperature (°C) | Time Recorded | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drumnadrochit | 28.9 | 3:40 PM | Highlands |
| Charterhall | 28.7 | 2:55 PM | Scottish Borders |
| Aboyne | 28.7 | 4:00 PM | Aberdeenshire |
| Edinburgh | 28.4 | 3:10 PM | Lothians |
| Glasgow | 27.3 | 2:30 PM | Central Belt |
Even coastal areas felt the burn. Some locals said the breeze “just gave up.”
How Scots Responded: Ice Cream, Paddling Pools, and Mild Panic
In Aberdeen, five-year-old Broden wore a bright yellow shark t-shirt, slid down a sun-drenched chute, and grinned behind sunglasses the size of his head. Across the country, kids were hosed down in gardens. Adults looked for any patch of grass or shade they could claim.
In typical fashion, Scotland reacted in four predictable ways:
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Supermarkets ran out of ice lollies by 2 PM.
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Beer gardens were full by noon.
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Taps in some areas ran warm, even on cold.
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Folk started worrying if they had enough sun cream… in Scotland!
It wasn’t just the excitement, though. There was also a sense of “wait… this isn’t normal, is it?”
What’s Behind the Sudden Surge in Heat?
Experts say a high-pressure system moved north from continental Europe, dragging with it warm, dry air that settled stubbornly over the UK. Combined with clear skies and low wind speeds, the result was a full-blown Scottish scorcher.
Unlike England, Scotland rarely sees temperatures breach 28°C in June. It’s usually reserved for late July, if it happens at all.
This spike, while not technically a “heatwave” under Met Office definitions, is part of a broader trend. Data from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) shows a 0.5°C increase in average summer temperatures over the past two decades.
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And with global warming continuing to push baseline temps higher, these extremes may not be so rare in the years ahead.
Not All Sunshine and Selfies: Health and Fire Warnings Creep In
By mid-afternoon, public health alerts were quietly being circulated. NHS Scotland reminded residents — especially the elderly and children — to hydrate, avoid peak-hour exposure, and stay in the shade when possible.
Dr. Iona Maclean from Edinburgh Royal Infirmary told BBC Radio Scotland, “Scots aren’t used to this heat. Our homes, our public buildings — they’re built to keep heat in. That’s a problem when the temperature outside is nearly 30°C.”
There were also murmurs of brush fire risk in some drier areas of the Borders. Local authorities issued precautionary notices near woodland parks and moors.
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So, while everyone enjoyed the heat, the mood was tempered with a whisper of concern.
The Good, the Bad, and the Brilliantly Scottish Reactions
Scots have a love-hate relationship with heatwaves. On one hand, it’s a chance to finally wear shorts without irony. On the other, it means remembering your attic is basically a furnace.
Social media was quick to deliver the highlights:
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“Hottest day of the year and I’m stuck in the office with a broken fan. Cheers.”
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“Taps aff in Glasgow. Suns oot, belly oot.”
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“Is it too soon to complain? Asking for a friend.”
There was even a tweet showing someone grilling sausages on a manhole cover in Leith. No word on how they turned out.
