Scotland weather LIVE as thunderstorms hammer country and yellow alert in place (2024)

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Forecasters reveal next heatwave

Today (Monday, August 12) has been the hottest day of the year so far, and weather forecasters are cautioning that we might be bracing for more heatwave conditions later in the month.

A peak temperature of 34.8C was recorded in Cambridge this afternoon, according to the Met Office, and there's now potential for a return to such sweltering temperatures soon.

James Madden from Exacta Weather said in a forecast update this morning: "Signals are ever-increasing for the hot to very hot weather to return during late August." He has identified the period from August 20 to August 25 - effectively most of next week - for when this "major heat surge" will take place.

READ MORE: Weather forecaster reveals exact dates for 'second sweltering heatwave' this month

Some advice for future strikes

Richard Harvey, Electrical Installation Engineer at Electrical Safety First warns: "Lightning strikes to homes occur more than you might expect. Besides risking an immediate fire caused from the huge amounts of energy and heat a lightning bolt can produce the unseen damage to your electrical wiring plug sockets, connected equipment and your plugged-in gadgets can be extensive."

The UK charity has now issued some advice on what happens when lightning strikes your property, how much it's likely to cost in home insurance and what to do next if you find yourself in this situation.

Read More: What to do when lightning strikes your home, according to experts

Man opens up on seeing neighbour's home set on fire by lightning strike

A man who saw lightning strike a home in his road said his neighbours were "lucky" to get out of the property but "must have lost everything". Crews were sent from Aviemore and Grantown to tackle the house fire, which is understood to have broken out during a huge thunderstorm this morning.

Fire could be seen blazing from the roof of the property, while smoke continues to pour from the property. It is understood the blaze was caused by a lightning strike just after 10am.

Retired physics teacher Nick Forwood, 67, was standing at the entrance to his home in Aviemore when lightning struck the house. Nick, a former Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team member, said: "Even though I was 100 yards away I could feel the electric shock run up my legs, it was weird and surprising.

"After the house was hit you could smell the smoke and about half an hour later flames were coming through the roof in two places. Fortunately the family inside got out - there was a woman and two children. They were lucky but they must have lost everything."

READ MORE HERE: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/neighbour-house-struck-lightning-says-33446608

Five people injured after lightning strike sets family home ablaze

Five people have been injured after a family home was struck by lightning before bursting into flames during a thunderstorm.

Fire crews were called to battle the blaze which broke out in the Sheldon area of Birmingham at around 11am today.

Dramatic photos show how almost the entire roof was decimated by the inferno which tore through the semi-detached property in Greenvale Avenue.

Three women and two men were treated by medics at the scene - including one female casualty who was taken to the city's Heartlands Hospital.

Met Office weather warning ends

The Met Office yellow warning for Scotland has ended. The weather alert ran from 2am today until 1pm and covered all of the country, apart from Shetland.

Over 12,000 lightning strikes hit Scotland within 24 hours, with thunderstorms rumbling overhead and many areas being subjected to torrential rain.

But the worst of the storm has now passed, so the weather warning has expired. SEPA has flood alerts for five regions - Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City; Dundee and Angus; Findhorn, Nairn, Moray, and Speyside; Orkney; and Tayside - down from 18 this morning.

Top tips for staying safe during thunderstorms

The Met Office has revealed its top tips for staying safe during a thunderstorm.

With Scotland in the midst of heavy downpours and lightning strikes, keeping you and your loved ones safe is of the utmost important.

From ensuring your phone is charged, knowing where to park you car, and how to escape from a flooded building, read on below to see the Met Office's advice.

READ ADVICE HERE: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/five-tips-staying-safe-thunderstorm-33445783

Fire at Scots home after being 'struck by lightning' during storms

Fire crews are currently battling a blaze at a Scots home after the property was "struck by lightning" during thunderstorms.

Emergency services were raced to the inferno on Grampian View in Aviemore, Highlands, after receiving the alarm at 10am on Monday. Four fire engines and a specialist height vehicle are currently in attendance.

Shocking video footage shows the roof of the semi-detached property engulfed by flames. The aggressive blaze can be seen ripping through the roof as crews continue to work to put the inferno out.

READ MORE HERE: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/fire-rips-through-scots-home-33444922

Lightning strike map

The Met Office have released a video graphic showing where the lightning strikes have hit the UK in the last 24 hours, with the vast majority in Scotland.

Have you heard thunder this morning?

Over 15000 lightning strikes have been recorded over the UK in the last 24 hours, here's where the #thunderstorms have been pic.twitter.com/c7q9BR7K13

— Met Office (@metoffice) August 12, 2024

Thunderstorms starting to clear

In an update that will be welcome news to most people in Scotland, the Met Office has confirmed that the thunderstorms are starting to clear across the country.

The worst of the weather is moving off the north-east coast and is being followed by warmer weather, with temperatures of around 20C expected in the Central Belt and 19C in Aberdeenshire.

Thunderstorms clearing eastern Scotland and northeast England early this afternoon

Thundery showers possible elsewhere in England too, and very hot in the east, with a low chance of severe thunderstorms here later

Warm and rather humid with sunny spells elsewhere pic.twitter.com/UdAGiBgrHD

— Met Office (@metoffice) August 12, 2024

Why thunderstorms often follow hot weather

A weather expert has shed light on why thunderstorms often follow periods of hot weather, as Scotland is hammered by thunder and lightning this morning.

Heatwaves and consistently warm weather often culminate in a thunderstorm, with glorious sunshine quickly succeeded by heavy rain, thunder, and lightning.

As explained by the Met Office, the primary components for a thunderstorm are atmospheric instability and humidity. They typically occur when there is an increase in moisture in the system and they generally develop in the afternoon following continuous hot weather earlier in the day.

Thunderstorms develop when the structure of the atmosphere becomes unstable, which occurs when warmer air is present beneath significantly colder air.

READ MORE HERE: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/thunderstorms-happen-after-hot-weather-33444097

Over 12,000 lightning strikes hit Scotland in 24 hours

The Met Office has revealed that over 12,000 lightning have hammered Scotland in the last 24 hours, which is an average of more than 500 every hour across the country.

A spokesperson for the weather authority said: "In the past 24 hours, Scotland has had 12,258 lightning strikes. This can either be between a cloud and the ground or within a cloud. There are often multiple strikes in a flash of lightning."

Ominously, the Met Office said there was "more to come too".

Hottest day of the year... despite thunderstorms

Despite Scotland being hammered by thunder, lightning, and torrential rain, today is set to be the hottest day of the year in the UK.

The Met Office revealed that it may hit 34C in some areas of Britain, with the hottest regions being in the south and east of England.

Today will be the hottest day of 2024 so far with temperatures likely to reach 34°C in a few places

But the heat is confined to parts of England with temperatures much nearer average in northern and western areas of the UK pic.twitter.com/kT5XBo5l1s

— Met Office (@metoffice) August 12, 2024

SEPA issues flood alert update

SEPA has issued an update to its flood alerts across Scotland. As of 11am, there are 11 alerts in place, down from 18 earlier this morning.

The regions still on alert for flooding, according to the agency, are: .Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City; Caithness and Sutherland; Central Scotland; Dundee and Angus; Easter Ross and Great Glen; Edinburgh and Lothians; Fife; Findhorn, Nairn, Moray and Speyside; Orkney; Scottish Borders; and Tayside.

The areas no longer covered by flood alerts are all in the west and south of Scotland. They are: Argyll and Bute Ayrshire and Arran; Dumfries and Galloway; Skye and Lochaber; West Central Scotland; Wester Ross; and Western Isles. Shetland is also still without a flood alert.

Warning for motorists

Drivers in the North East have been warned to take care today if on the roads during the weather warning.

The @metoffice have issued a weather warning for Thunderstorms & @SEPAFlood have issued a flood warning for across Aberdeen & Shire

The warning remains in place until 1pm today.

Please drive with care & allow extra time for travelling.

Follow @ARL_AWPR & @trafficscotland pic.twitter.com/DffPSZx2Kc

— Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (@ARL_AWPR) August 12, 2024

Do thunderstorms cause headaches?

The sound of thunder often signals the start of a heavy storm, but for some, it can also mark the onset of painful headaches. Is there any truth to the idea that weather can affect your health?

According to NHS advice, it appears so. As large parts of Scotland experience torrential downpours that battered most regions throughout the night thunderstorms are set to continue into Monday afternoon across the majority of the country.

The NHS website warns that those prone to headaches may experience increased discomfort during periods of grey skies, high humidity, rising temperatures, and storms.

The NHS has explained that shifts in atmospheric pressure, often linked to changes in weather, can spark chemical and electrical alterations within the brain. These modifications can irritate nerves, resulting in headaches that can last anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours.

READ MORE HERE: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/thunderstorms-cause-headaches-how-you-33443552

Torrential rain batters Scotland

The Met Office have posted a weather map clip, showing how the downpours will move across Scotland.

Torrential downpours and thunderstorms across Scotland and northern England this morning, clearing the east this afternoon

Lot of sunshine elsewhere though isolated thundery showers are possible

Hot and humid across England, especially in the east pic.twitter.com/gIjy7rR4iy

— Met Office (@metoffice) August 12, 2024

All areas affected by thunderstorms

Scotland's thunderstorms are set to continue into Monday afternoon across the majority of the country after a yellow weather warning predicted torrential downpours that battered most regions throughout the night.

Sunday (August 11) saw the storm develop over western parts of the UK and travel northeast during the second half of yesterday evening into Monday morning (August 12). The Met Office has warned that thunderstorms could cause some "disruption and damage to infrastructure" during Monday.

The yellow weather warning was put in place at 2am on Monday, August 12 and is set to last until around 1pm this afternoon. It appears that most regions and local authorities across Scotland will be affected including Central, Tayside & Fife, Grampian, Highlands & Eilean Siar, Strathclyde, SW Scotland, Lothian and Borders, and Orkney.

READ MORE HERE: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/scotland-thunderstorms-areas-affected-met-33443251

Scotland battered by thunderstorms

Thunderstorms have hit the length and breadth of Scotland this morning as the Met Office issued a flood warning.

Torrential downpours and lightning strikes have battered the country amid warnings the adverse conditions could cause "disruption and damage" to infrastructure. A yellow alert is currently in place across Scotland and Northern England and will last until 1pm today.

It covers Central Scotland, Tayside, Fife, Grampian, Highlands and Eilean Siar, Orkney, Lothian, the Borders and Strathclyde regions. Forecasters have warned residents there is a chance homes and businesses could be damaged with floods likely to take place.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency ( SEPA ) currently has 18 flood alerts in place.

READ MORE HERE: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/scotland-hit-thunderstorms-met-office-33443066

SEPA flood alerts all across Scotland

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have flood alerts in place in 18 areas of Scotland. Like the Met Office weather warning, the only region that does not have an alert is the Shetland Islands.

Yellow weather warning in place

The Met Office yellow weather warning for thunderstorms is in place across all of Scotland, apart from Shetland, from 2am today until 1pm.