Today has proved to be the hottest day of the year so far with the warm, sunny weather expected to continue over the Bank Holiday weekend.
With the best of the weather in the west, temperatures were over 17C on Thursday in places such as Oban, and Fort William – with the Western Isles basking in sunshine.
Even the Shetland islands stayed relatively warm at around 11 or 12C.
Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire were slightly cooler. But it will be a changed picture by Saturday afternoon, when temperatures of 17C are expected.
Mixed picture for the weather in the north of Scotland
Elgin and the Moray coast today saw soaring temperatures of 16C, and that is set to get even higher tomorrow to 17C – but it is likely to remain cloudy.
The warm, sunny weather is expected to continue throughout the Bank Holiday weekend.
A Met Office spokesperson said that high pressure is likely to bring about settled and warm conditions through to Monday.
However, forecasters said that no “African plume” heatwave is expected any time soon, after it was reported that scorching temperatures were expected across the country before the end of May.
For warm weather to be classed as a heatwave, it has to persist for at least three days and be much hotter than expected for the time of year.
A Met Office spokesperson said that while temperatures are heating up, they are not outside of what is expected for early summer.
An area of high pressure to the west of the UK is driving the warm and sunny conditions, he said.
Here’s the forecast for the weekend:
Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
Friday: Any early low cloud and mist will soon clear then dry and sunny through the morning. Becoming cloudier through the afternoon, but staying mostly dry and bright.
Maximum temperatures expected:
Aberdeen: 13C, 17C on Saturday
Peterhead: 13C, 16C on Saturday
Fraserburgh: 14C, 17C on Saturday
Stonehaven: 13C, 18C on Saturday
Ballater: 18C, 17C on Saturday
Outlook for Saturday to Monday: Dry and bright Saturday morning, but cloudier and breezier in afternoon with some rain in west.
Mostly dry on Sunday and Monday with bright or sunny spells and light winds.
Moray
Friday: Any early low cloud and mist will soon clear then dry and sunny through the morning. Becoming cloudier through the afternoon, but staying mostly dry and bright.
Maximum temperatures expected:
Elgin: 17C, 16C on Saturday
Aberlour: 17C, 15C on Saturday
Lossiemouth: 17C, 16C on Saturday
Buckie: 16C, 16C on Saturday
Mostly dry on Sunday
Outlook for Saturday to Monday: Dry and bright Saturday morning, but cloudier and breezier in afternoon with some rain in west. Mostly dry on Sunday and Monday with bright or sunny spells and light winds.
Argyll
Friday: Low cloud over eastern parts soon lifting, then dry, with bright or sunny spells and cloud over Argyll and the isles will clear in morning. Warm with light winds. Maximum temperature 20 °C.
Maximum temperatures expected:
Oban: 15C, 14C on Saturday
Appin: 15C, 14C on Saturday
Lochgilphead: 15C, 15C on Saturday
Iona: 13C, 12C on Saturday
Outlook for Saturday to Monday: Cloudier and breezier on Saturday, a little rain in afternoon, but more especially in west. Cloudy start Sunday then dry with bright or sunny spells and mostly sunny on Monday.
Western Isles
Friday: A cloudier day, but some bright or perhaps sunny spells in east. Low cloud and patchy rain or drizzle in north and west, especially towards the coast. Moderate southwest winds. Maximum temperature 15 °C.
Maximum temperatures expected:
Stornoway: 14C, 12C on Saturday with rain
Castlebay: 13C, 12C on Saturday
Leverburgh: 13C, 12C on Saturday
Outlook for Saturday to Monday: Cloudy and rather breezy on Saturday with some rain, but brighter with scattered showers by evening. Winds easing overnight, then mostly dry with bright or sunny spells Sunday and Monday
Highlands
Friday: A cloudier day, but some bright or perhaps sunny spells in east. Low cloud and patchy rain or drizzle in north and west, especially towards the coast. Moderate southwest winds.
Maximum temperatures expected:
Inverness: 17C, 16C on Saturday
Wick: 14C, 14C on Saturday
Dingwall: 17C, 16C on Saturday
Fort William: 16C, 14C on Saturday
Portree: 14C, 13C on Saturday
Outlook for Saturday to Monday: Cloudy and rather breezy on Saturday with some rain, but brighter with scattered showers by evening. Winds easing overnight, then mostly dry with bright or sunny spells Sunday and Monday.
Northern Isles
Friday: Dry and bright over Shetland into the afternoon, but cloud over Orkney will thicken to bring patchy rain and this will spread to Shetland in the afternoon. Freshening southwest winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.
Maximum temperatures expected:
Lerwick: 11C, 11C on Saturday
Kirkwall: 13C, 12C on Saturday
Outlook for Saturday to Monday: Cloudy and rather windy on Saturday with rain, but brighter with showers later. Winds easing overnight, then bright or sunny spells on Sunday and Monday but the odd shower.
Conversation