Who needs Majorca? Scotland soars to 25C (but it won't last)

MUCH of Scotland is expected to continue to enjoy a mini heatwave today after parts of the country were hotter than Majorca yesterday at 25C.

However, forecasters warned that temperatures will plunge below the seasonal average of 16C over the weekend, and countered reports of a "flaming June" to come.

The north east of Scotland is forecast to be the hottest area again today, at 24C, with temperatures across the Central Belt and in the Borders reaching 23C.

It reached 25C in Aberdeenshire and parts of Fife, such as Burntisland, yesterday. By contrast, Majorca in the Mediterranean only managed 15C.

In Aberdeen, Romanian student Alexandra Constantinescu made the most of the weather at the city's beach. She said: "Normally it's colder here than it is back home. But not today. It's too hot to wear anything other than a bikini. It's lovely."

Helen Chivers, of the Met Office, said eastern Scotland had enjoyed the UK's highest temperatures yesterday. But she added: "The fine weather we are having at the moment won't last that long. Today will be slightly warmer than yesterday, but temperatures will drop by Sunday.

"Early next week, north-westerly winds are likely to bring outbreaks of rain as well, so make the best of the sunshine across the next few days."

Ms Chivers said accurate long-term forecasts were not possible, but rejected the idea that tennis stars would struggle under the sun at Wimbledon and rock stars would dehydrate at the Glastonbury Festival.

She said in the 16-30 June period, which includes both events, the forecast was for only slightly above average sunshine and normal temperatures.

Billy Payne, of the Meteogroup weather centre, forecast a similar outlook. He said: "Next week is looking quite unsettled - it doesn't look like it's going to be anything special."

Brian Gaze, a forecaster at the Weather Outlook, agreed. He said: "The June forecast suggests a mixed picture for the month as a whole, with temperatures close to the average with some unsettled spells developing at times.

"The summer forecast has also been recently issued, and although some very warm spells of weather are likely with temperatures probably peaking at close to 33C in the south (of the UK], the general picture is for a mixed season, and one which will not be remembered as a classic.

"A dry start is expected to be followed by increasing rainfall amounts, especially during the second half of the season.

"In the shorter term, the next few days are looking increasingly fine as high pressure once more builds across southern Britain. It will also become much warmer, with temperatures reaching 25C or even slightly higher in the south."