Scotland split by dramatic weather divide – and there’s a scorcher on the way

SCOTS faced Jekyll and Hyde Bank Holiday fortunes today – with sunny spells in the west and thundery downpours in the east.

In Dumfries and Galloway, all pupils were sent home from Moffat Academy after both floors of the building were flooded.

It followed a sustained period of rainfall in the area over the holiday weekend.

In Lothian and Borders, the Met Office calculated as much as 30-40mm was falling in just a short space of time, creating dreadful conditions on the roads.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency had 13 flood alerts in place, mostly for the eastern half of Scotland, from Aberdeenshire to the Scottish Borders.

Yet in the west, save for a few showers, families were able to enjoy the last public holiday before summer.

That arrives next Saturday, when high pressure is forecast to take charge and weekend temperatures are set to hit 21C in the sunshine.

In Largs, on the Firth of Clyde, award-winning businesswoman Tiffany Irvin was today doing brisk trade at her Beachcomber ice cream parlour and The Fish Works chippie.

The 40-year-old said: “It’s been a long winter, there’s no doubt about it.

“We have been fairly busy today because it’s dry and we’re looking forward to a fine weekend ahead. I think people are just desperate to enjoy the great outdoors again.

“The fact that our fish suppers have been winning awards encourages people to come down to the promenade.”

A yellow Met Office warning for heavy thunderstorms is in place for the eastern side of Scotland until 10pm tonight.

Forecaster Dan Stroud said: “That kind of weather doesn’t make for a pleasant Bank Holiday Monday. We have seen clusters of rain in the Lothians, with 30-40mm falling in a short space of time.

“Yet the west has been much brighter. Scotland needs to get through some more thundery downpours on Wednesday and Thursday before things calm down by Friday.

“By the time we get to next weekend, high pressure will be in charge and there should be some decent sunshine for the start of summer.”

Surprisingly, the Met Office say May has been two to three degrees warmer than the monthly average, with only two thirds of the rainfall we normally see in the month.

Recent bad weather caused delays to resurfacing work on the M8 west bound after Junction 3, forcing two more nights work, ending on Thursday night.

In the West Highlands, the main A82 between Corran Ferry and Fort William will be shut overnight in both directions from 8pm tomorrow evening until 6am, and again each night until June 10.

This is to allow vital repair work to the carriageway at Corrychurrachan. Work will be suspended during so-called ‘amnesty’ periods to allow traffic to pass at 9pm, 10pm, 11pm, 12am, 2am and 4am.

A spokesman for road operator Bear Scotland added: “A 30mph speed limit and warning signs will remain in place, as traffic will be travelling over a temporary road surface.”