GLASGOW — Scotland is set for a burst of summer heat in the coming days, with temperatures climbing into the mid-20s Celsius—potentially making this week the warmest of the year so far. But don’t pack away the waterproofs just yet. The sizzle will be tempered by a wave of heavy, thundery downpours sweeping across the country.
Warmest Spell of 2025 Incoming?
Wednesday saw temperatures peak at 22°C officially in parts of the Highlands, Perthshire, Renfrewshire, and Aberdeenshire. But many personal weather stations reported even higher readings, with some Glasgow and North Lanarkshire monitors registering 24°C—making it one of the hottest days of the year.
Forecasters say Thursday or Friday could beat that, with parts of Scotland likely to exceed 25.5°C, the current high mark set on May 13 in Tyndrum and Auchincruive.
A Warm Wind from the South
This warmth isn’t homegrown. A plume of hot air drifting north from Africa is heating up large parts of southern Europe, driving temperatures into the mid to upper 30s°C in France, Spain, and Italy. While Scotland won’t see extremes on that level, the northward surge of air is certainly nudging local thermometers higher than usual for early June.
But With Heat Comes Humidity—and Thunder
Despite the welcome sunshine, the warmth comes with a caveat. Rising humidity levels mean the Scottish atmosphere is growing increasingly unstable, setting the stage for thundery downpours in the days ahead.
Locals and tourists should be prepared for torrential showers, especially in the afternoons and evenings, with localised flooding not out of the question.
“This isn’t a straight road into summer,” said Batty. “While the heat will be welcome after a sluggish start to June, it’s paired with volatile conditions that could make things pretty lively overhead.”
