Weather Scotland: Is Scotland experiencing a heatwave? What makes a heatwave? What is the Scotland weather forecast?

The sun is beating down. You’re hot, bothered and can’t sleep at night. Pets lie panting in shady corners and your garden is beginning to resemble a parched desert.

Yes, it’s official – the nation is basking in a heatwave.

So what defines a heatwave?

According to the Met Office, it’s an extended period of weather where temperatures are higher than usual for the area at the time of year, and may be accompanied by high humidity.

To be recognised as heatwave in the UK, the hot spell must see daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the location’s particular threshold for at least three consecutive days. In Scotland just now, that’s 25C.

So at the start of this week, it was declared the country was officially basking in heatwave.

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A scorching 30.6C was recorded at Threave in Dumfries on Monday, making it the hottest day north of the border so far this year.

Scotland is officially basking in a heatwave after three consecutive days of unusually warm temperatures. Picture: Ilona Amos

“You can safely say Scotland is now in official heatwave territory,” said Grahame Madge of the Met Office.

What is the weather forecast for Scotland? Will the hot weather continue?

The warmth is set to continue across the UK, according to the latest forecast. But conditions could become more unsettled over the weekend, with heavy showers and thunder and lightning storms moving in to some places.

“Over the coming days we’ll be transitioning to a more unsettled regime for the UK, though temperatures will remain high and it’ll feel very humid for many,” said Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Steven Keates.

“Heavy showers and thunderstorms are likely to become more frequent through the weekend, with the potential for associated hail, lightning and some gusty winds.

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“While the focus of thundery showers on Friday afternoon will be Northern Ireland, that risk spreads more widely across western and southern areas of the UK on Saturday, before pushing further north on Sunday.

“As in many of these situations, these showers can be hit or miss, with some places avoiding them whilst other areas nearby may see some very wet conditions.”

It’s not yet known exactly which areas will be hit by the heaviest thundery downpours, which could see more than 40mm fall in a short time on Saturday and Sunday.

But north-eastern parts of Scotland are predicted to be the “exception to the unsettled shift in the weather” and most likely to escape the wet.