Scotland days away from 'very unusual' weather record

Scotland is just days away from setting a “very unusual” weather record for this time of year.

If the temperature doesn’t exceed 20C by Friday, it will be the first time it’s failed to do so by this stage of May for nearly 40 years.

The last year in which Scotland hadn’t enjoyed that kind of warmth by May 21 was 1983, STV meteorologist Sean Batty said.

But he’s expecting temperatures to soon rise and break through the 20C barrier towards the end of next week.

Sean said: “From what I can see, nowhere in Scotland has exceeded 20 degrees so far this year, which is very unusual by this point in May.

“If nowhere exceeds 20C before Friday, which won’t happen, it’ll be the first time that a temperature over 20C hasn’t been recorded before May 21 since 1983.”

The last two months have been mixed for Scots, with some areas enjoying the sunniest and driest April on record – and others feeling the chill.

“I’m sure a lot of Scots would think it’s been a pretty rubbish spring, at least temperature-wise,” said Sean.

“April had some big headlines, not all good though. For many it was the sunniest and driest April on record – which is pretty decent if you’re not a farmer, but it also came in as one of the coldest and frostiest on record for quite a few areas.

“So even though it was dry, it wasn’t quite barbecue weather, unless you were willing to be all fleeced up.”

Meanwhile, it’s been a wet May in St Andrews, which has seen a month-and-a-half’s worth of rainfall in the past three weeks – 27 times the amount Scotland saw in April.

Scots can look forward to a touch of summer – or winter – as we head towards the end of the month, Sean said.

“It looks like we may finally break through the 20C barrier later next week as we head for the holiday weekend,” he said.

“I expect the weather to settle down through next week with some warm days in the low 20s, but still some chilly nights and a possibility that some spots could still get a frost.”