Scotland's weather: Temperatures more than double normal May levels

Western parts of Scotland have been basking in unseasonably hot weather, with temperatures shooting up to double the levels usually seen in May.

Swimmers and sunbathers enjoy the hot weather at Gourock Outdoor Pool. Picture: PA

Conditions in the Highlands and Outer Hebrides yesterday were more like the Mediterranean, with a heatwave ­pushing the mercury towards 27C.

Thermometers soared to 26.7C at Askernish on South Uist and 26.6C at Kinlochbervie in Sutherland, while Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye peaked at 26.5C.

Meanwhile, sun-worshippers in Gourock were making the most of the hottest day of the year so far to test the waters of the town’s open-air swimming pool.

Sunbathers and swimmers enjoy the outdoor pool at Gourock. Picture: John Devlin

Monday has been the hottest day of the year so far, surpassing the previous highest temperature - recorded the day before - by more than 7C.

Further south, readings reached 22C in Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire, though a chilly breeze from the southeast kept some eastern areas from rising beyond the mid-teens.

Shetland remained closer to the seasonal average for the month at 11.6C.

And Met Office forecasters say the warm, sunny weather will continue for most of this week, though it’s unlikely the heat will rise to Monday’s levels.

Martin Curry from Kirkintilloch goes off the deep end. Picture: John Devlin

Meteorologist Emma Staples said: “It will be fine, with sunshine, and very much similar as you go through into Tuesday, though there could be some patchy cloud clearing through the morning - particularly in the south, round Edinburgh, Fife and the Borders.

“It’s not going to be quite as warm, but still fairly respectable - into the low 20s, maybe up to 22C in western areas.

“The fine, fairly bright, sunny weather persists into the middle of the week.

“Wednesday looks again fairly fine, bright and sunny, although it will start to get a bit more cloudy in the south.

Sunbathers and swimmers enjoy the outdoor pool at Gourock. Picture: John Devlin

“It won’t be quite so warm either, with the winds turning more easterly. Temperatures are likely to drop into the mid to high teens.

“As you go towards the end of the week, though, the winds are turning north or northeasterly, a cooler direction, so by Saturday we will be seeing temperatures much reduced - back into low double figures, 10C to 15C, depending on where you are.”

Conditions are expected to be generally dry into next week, though outbreaks of patchy rain could hit some eastern regions.s