The heat is on as Fyvie beats Majorca

Published on 16/04/2007 00:36

THE daffodils were still in bloom but Scotland was basking in summer sunshine yesterday, with parts of the country hotter than Madrid.

Parks and beaches across the country were bursting with pleasure seekers while supermarkets reported a boom in barbecues as Britain enjoyed temperatures hotter than the Mediterranean.

Yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures around ten degrees higher than normal for the time of year.

Fyvie Castle north-west of Aberdeen was the hottest place in Scotland, with a top temperature of 23.7C. (74.66F).

By comparison, holidaymakers in Majorca experienced showers and temperatures of only 17C (57F), while Tenerife was cloudy with top temperatures of 21C (70F).

Temperatures in Edinburgh hit a high of 21C yesterday (69.8F) while in the west temperatures were slightly cooler, with Glasgow and Dumfries reaching 20.3C (68.5F).

The average temperature for Scotland at this time of year is just 14C (57F).

Taking advantage of the glorious spring weather in the north-east on Sunday was student Deborah Murphy, who headed to Aboyne to enjoy the sun with her friends. "It's absolutely beautiful," said the 20-year-old.

"I dug out my bikini and sarong and we're going to fry ourselves silly for as long as the sun is kind to us."

Weather forecasters say the unusually warm weather has been caused by high pressure, combined with a lack of rainfall. Some parts of the UK, including Edinburgh, have had no rain since the beginning of the month.

Inspired by the summer temperatures, Britons got busy with their barbecues, with Tesco and Asda reporting unusually high sales of sausages, burgers and cold drinks.

Met Office national forecaster Stewart Wortley said the temperatures around the country were "extraordinary".

"Parts of the country will probably reach 26C," he said yesterday. "This compares to 17C in Mallorca where there are showers, and 22C in Barcelona where there are also showers."

A temperature of 25.7C (78F) was recorded at Southampton on Saturday afternoon, while Herstmonceux in Sussex, reached 25.3C (74F) on Sunday, making it hotter than Athens. Temperatures in London reached 22.6C (73 F).

The record of 29.4C (85F), set in Camden on 16 April, 1949, still stands but forecasters say the warm start to April has broken records. The mild winter, combined with the unusually warm spring, have ensured the last 12 months have been the warmest in the UK since records began in 1659.

Forecaster Jeremy Plester said: "It's the hottest day of the year so far. There have been decent temperatures pretty much everywhere, with only some coastal areas missing out. It's been cooler - and there's even been some rain - in the far west."

Peter Sloss from the Met Office in Aberdeen said temperatures across Scotland yesterday were far warmer than usual but said the weather was expected to cool over the next few days. "Inland Aberdeenshire and across the North-east away from the coast will generally be experiencing brilliant sunshine.

"It is cooler in the west of Scotland and rain off the Outer Hebrides will push across Scotland. Today will be the last day - but it's a good one."