Scotland braced for hottest day of year so far

Scotland is braced for its hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures expected to pass 30C (86F) in parts of the county.

The heat could peak at 31C in Perthshire and inland Aberdeenshire, with 27C expected in the central belt and the north east.

The Scottish heatwave officially began yesterday, with Met Office criteria requiring temperatures to reach 25C on three consecutive days in the same area.

It comes as several large outdoor events take place around the country including the Tiree Music Festival, the Island Games in Orkney and TRNSMT in Glasgow.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has urged people to stay safe by ensuring they drink water and are protected from the sun.

Dr Emilia Crichton, director of public health, said: “No matter what you’re doing, please enjoy the good weather safely by protecting yourself when in the sun, staying hydrated, and having common medicines to hand.”

Meanwhile, fire crews are spending a second day tackling an outdoor blaze in Perth, with an extreme wildfire warning in place for much of Scotland until Monday.

Emergency services had been alerted to the blaze near the M90, in the Craigend area of Perth on Friday afternoon.

Six fire engines and a specialist wildfire unit were sent, with police closing the road between Aberdalgie and Craigend.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said teams remained at the scene working to “make the area safe”.

SFRS group commander Raymond King said: “We are asking the public to exercise extreme caution and think twice before using anything involving a naked flame.

“Many rural and remote communities are hugely impacted by wildfires, which can cause significant damage.”

Earlier in July, parts of the north of Scotland were hit by wildfires on a “vast scale” which burned for several days, prompting a police investigation.

At Loch Lomond, Police Scotland has launched Operation Ballaton to address disorder and disruptive incidents in the area.

Insp Colin Cameron said: “Balloch and the surrounding areas attract large numbers of people during the summer months, and we are committed to making sure they remain safe, welcoming places for everyone.

The operation, which has been carried out in previous years, will be in force during the summer months.