The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms and heavy rain across most of Scotland, effective until midnight on Friday, following several days of hot weather. The warning covers the entire country except Shetland.
Risk of Flooding and Travel Disruption
Forecasters warn that there is a small chance homes and businesses could flood, while storms and lightning strikes may cause travel disruption. Residents are advised to stay alert and prepare for potential impacts.
Many people took to social media early Friday morning to report thunder and lightning in the Edinburgh area and further north. One user described an "absolutely tremendous storm over Edinburgh," while another called it "spectacular."
Fire Service Response
Firefighters were called to two dwelling fires in the early hours of Friday, though it is unclear if they were related to the storm. A fire in Dalkeith, Midlothian, was reported at 3:24 a.m., and another in Aberlady, East Lothian, at 3:45 a.m. Both blazes were extinguished with no injuries reported.
Recent Hot Weather
The stormy conditions follow a period of hot, dry weather. On Thursday, temperatures reached 31.2°C at Threave in Dumfries and Galloway, according to Met Office data. Drumalbin in South Lanarkshire and Auchencruive in South Ayrshire also hit 30°C. The record June temperature for Scotland is 32.3°C, recorded at Ochtertyre in Perthshire on June 18, 1893.
Detailed Forecast
The Met Office warning states: "Spells of heavy rain and thunderstorms initially over north-west Scotland are likely to become more widespread during Friday morning. Further thunderstorms and spells of heavy rain are possible in the afternoon before becoming confined to more northern areas of Scotland later in the day. Rainfall amounts will be highly variable but narrow corridors of 20-30mm falling in one hour and potentially 30-50mm in three hours is possible. Frequent lightning, large hail (2-4cm diameter) and locally gusty winds with stronger storms."
Flood Alerts Issued
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has issued 18 flood alerts and one flood warning across the country, urging residents to take precautions.
