Weather: How hot can Scotland get in April?

April is usually when Scotland experiences its first proper warmth as the sun climbs higher in the sky and high pressure makes more of a regular appearance – hopefully.

But what can we expect from April – how hot can it get?

Where is most likely to feel the heat?

You might be surprised to hear this, but head for the north of Scotland in April if you’re looking for high temperatures.

This phenomenon is due to a foehn effect — a warming wind descending from mountains under specific conditions, increasing temperatures northward in southerly winds.

While air coming from the south is already warming up and will bring temperatures up to the high teens in southern areas, this little boost to the temperatures as the air crosses the mountains can put some parts of Moray and the north Highlands into the high 20s.

How hot can it get?

Well, we’ve not quite managed 30 degrees in April, yet… But the record holder for April is Inverailort on the road between Fort William and Mallaig in the west Highlands.

On the east shore of Lochailort the mercury hit a sweltering 27.2C on April 17, 2003.

Where does the heat come from?

April’s weather can swing from chilly to scorching in just a few days, thanks to the proximity of cold air to the north, while to the south, North Africa and Spain are warming up significantly.

When southerly winds sweep in, they bring those warmer temperatures with them.

This explains why, in April 2003, when Scotland set its April temperature record, Spain was also experiencing a heatwave, with 38.6C recorded in the south—at the time, a new national April record.

That record was later surpassed in April 2023, when 38.8C was recorded — nearly 40C in early spring. That’s absolutely crazy.

Record-breaking April

Mid-April 2003 stands out as one of Scotland’s hottest April spells on record. Over 16–17 April, temperatures soared past 25C in many parts of the north Highlands.

Further south, places like Pollok Park in Glasgow and East Kilbride hit the 25C mark, making it feel more like midsummer than spring.

Another scorcher came in late April 1984, when temperatures peaked at 26.5C — once again in the Highlands — just shy of the 2003 records.

Could we see 30C in April?

Absolutely, it’s bound to happen.

Before the 1980s, no location in Scotland had ever exceeded 24C in April.

However, since then, several places have surpassed that figure, especially in years like 1984, 1993, 2003, and 2019.

While it may not happen immediately, it’s only a matter of time before 30C is recorded in April.

Since 1960, the UK’s climate has warmed by just under 1C on average, making higher temperatures more likely than they were several decades ago.

This shift means the 30C mark in April is becoming more achievable.

Take precautions to protect your skin

As the first real taste of sun and warmth arrives, it’s tempting to head straight for the garden, beer gardens, or parks to shake off the winter blues.

But don’t forget about those rising UV levels throughout the month.

UV can actually be higher than usual in spring, as the ozone layer is often thinner during this time, still recovering from a winter minimum.

This means less UV radiation is blocked, leading to higher exposure. By the end of April, we’re also less than eight weeks away from the summer solstice, so the sun is getting stronger. Remember to protect your skin — sunburn can sneak up on you faster than you think.