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Weather experts fear Scotland has ‘skipped to autumn’ as more misery on the way
THIS could go down as the year of the ‘missing’ summer – with weathermen admitting current gloomy conditions are more akin to autumn.
Yesterday, the Met Office extended a yellow warning for heavy rainfall in the northeast into tomorrow morning.
And – two weeks after schools broke up for the summer holidays – there’s nothing in the long-range forecast to suggest warm and sunny weather is set to arrive any time soon.
Leading forecaster Grahame Madge suggests Scots will need to make the most of brief snatches of fine weather, rather than place their faith in any kind of heatwave.
He said: “A lot of what we are seeing just now has to do with the Jetstream, now blowing well to the south of the UK.
“As we are on its northerly edge, it means we are inviting in low-pressure systems from the Atlantic, bringing wind and rain.
“Normally, during summer, we are on the Jetstream’s southerly flank, allowing warmer air to come up from the continent.
“We are not seeing any opportunity for significant high-pressure building in, which would mean better weather.
At the end of a traditional summer, the Jetstream starts to move south, bringing in autumnal weather… I think people will need to make the most of any bright breaks in the weather
Grahame Madge
“High pressure will build in to the west of the UK on Friday, but unfortunately for Scotland, the way the ‘high’ is situated will allow more unsettled weather to topple in from the north.”
This will mean a dry start to the TRNSMT music festival on Friday in Glasgow before showers and longer spells of rain arrive for Saturday and Sunday.
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Mr Madge said he can see some validity in recent comments from meteorologists that current conditions are more akin to autumn.
He added: “Yes, I can see where they are coming from.
“At the end of a traditional summer, the Jetstream starts to move south, bringing in autumnal weather.
“Summer’s not a complete write-off for Scotland but I think people will need to make the most of any bright breaks in the weather.”
Earlier this week, Scotland’s retailers said they fear gloomy conditions will force them into slashing the price of summer fashion items.
The miserable season so far has put off people buying light clothes and footwear, with experts saying the ‘window’ is rapidly closing for that type of purchase.
With many people already away on summer holidays, retail chiefs fear that the absence of sunshine here might mean that shop owners will have no other choice but to discount stock.
A Met Office severe weather warning which began on Tuesday night was extended to 4am on Thursday morning.
UK 5 day weather forecast
Today – Further rain and showers today across Scotland with a risk of thunder in places. Outbreaks of rain elsewhere at first but turning drier and brighter and somewhat fresher from the west throughout the day.
Tonight – Rain across the north gradually moving a little further south throughout the night.
Thursday – Outbreaks of rain continuing to affect central areas throughout the day, but rain tending to be lighter and more patchy. Drier and brighter either side and remaining cool for many.
Outlook for Friday to Sunday – Sunshine and showers on Friday, before a risk of rain moves across eastern areas later and into Saturday. Drier but rather cloudy over the weekend, with still some showers.
Covering Grampian and the Moray coast, it warned that slow-moving downpours would affect travel and damage buildings.
At Cullen, in Moray, yesterday Andy Gorrara was walking his daughter’s dog, ‘Seven’ along the wind-swept beach.
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Struggling with his brolly, he said: “I have seen days in November that were better than today.
“This summer just hasn’t really got going at all.”