Scotland’s weather: Even elephants can’t take heat as the mercury soars

Published on 24/05/2012 01:38

SCOTLAND enjoyed a burst of summer sunshine yesterday, after temperatures came close to beating the all-time May record.

Altnaharra in the Highlands was the hottest place in the Scotland, with 27.3C yesterday lunchtime, closely followed by the ski resort of Aviemore, where it reached 26.9C.

In Glasgow, which basked in temperatures of 23.1C, sun-worshippers were seen splashing in the Victorian Stewart Memorial Fountain in Kelvingrove Park, joined by a couple of dogs trying to cool down. At Blair Drumomnd Safari Park near Stirling, keepers gave the elephants a cooling spray bath with hoses.

To the east, Edinburgh fared less well, with a high of 19.5C recorded, although people still flocked to parks to soak up the rays. In Aberdeen, the temperature reached 19.1C, well above the Met Office average of late May of between 14C and 16C.

The temperature in Altnaharra smashed the record set yesterday for the hottest day of 2012, when it reached 23.9C in Lossiemouth. With the good weather set to continue, it is possible that the all-time May record of 29C – set in Edinburgh in 1992 – could be rewritten.