Summer looks like it could be over already, with heavy rain battering the north and north-east today.
Thunder is rumbling through the north-east, with lightning brightening up the dark and heavy sky.
Motorists are being advised to drive with caution, with surface water causing problems on many roads, including Westburn Road in Aberdeen and the A90 at Laurencekirk.
The change in weather will be a huge disappointment for visitors attending outdoors events this weekend, which include the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival in Portsoy and Forres Highland Games.
In Portsoy, about 18,000 people attended last year to celebrate the rich maritime and cultural traditions of the region, and to admire the boats old and new on show.
In Forres, heavyweights, athletes, Highland dancers and pipers will brave the dreich day to entertain the crowds at Grant Park this afternoon.
Forecasters had warned it would be “all change” today, due to the band of heavy rain making its way now. It should clear later this afternoon.
However, more showers are expected tomorrow.
Online, many people said it was typical that the sunny weather had disappeared just in time for the weekend – and the start of the school holidays – while others remained more hopeful it would clear up.
A dreich start to the day, hopefully it will brighten up a bit for the Portsoy Boat Festival. We should be there about lunch time.
— RNLI Macduff (@MacduffLifeboat) July 4, 2015
Blimey! Rain and thunderstorms up in Aberdeen. So much for summer weather ey? #thisisscotland
— Ahmad Nabil (@ahmadnabil7) July 4, 2015
I am sitting in Aberdeen watching rain and lightning. This is an impressively Scottish summer's day.
— Liz Bourke (@hawkwing_lb) July 4, 2015
Absolutely pouring rain in Aberdeen. Just waiting for the thunder…. #scottishweather
— Fiona Henderson (@ginger_ninja24) July 4, 2015
Today was to be my first real hill walk in a year because of a knee ligament injury. Woke up to a monsoon. Ho-hum.. where's the waterproofs?
— Cameron McNeish (@CameronMcNeish) July 4, 2015