Scotland weather to 'soar to mid-20s' as summer solstice introduces warm spell

It's officially the first day of summer, as June 20 marks the official start to the season, though the weather in June so far has felt decidedly gloomy.

The summer solstice is the brightest day of the year. In the far north of Scotland, the sun will shine for over a whopping 19 hours today, but will it finally become warm?

Whilst today will see brighter weather and dry conditions, forecasters say you'll have to wait until next week for a warm spell. STV meteorologist Sean Batty says the warmest weather will hit next week as the mercury could hit the mid-20s in Stirlingshire, Lanarkshire and Glasgow.

Before that the weather will see a bump in temperature. Over the next few days, the expert says temperatures may reach 20C in Easter Ross, Moray, Aberdeenshire, Angus and the Lothians. Weather maps from the Met Office show temperatures in Edinburgh and Dundee reaching 19C on Saturday.

For a long-awaited taste of summer, Met Office maps indicate the central belt - including Edinburgh and Glasgow - hitting 22C on Monday June 24 and Tuesday June 25.

The Met Office forecast for next week reports that conditions are growing warmer with the chance of even becoming 'increasingly hot'. It reads: "Predominantly fine and settled through the period and for much of the country turning much warmer than we have seen in recent weeks. At first some thicker cloud could bring some outbreaks of mostly light rain, this mainly affecting northwestern areas. However for most it will be dry throughout, and likely to turn increasingly warm as we move into next week.

"There is a chance that this could persist for much of the rest of the period, turning increasingly hot, however by the latter part of next week we see a large range of outcomes, some of which allow for a return of temperatures closer to average. However the trend toward much warmer conditions continuing through next week is preferred."

UK five-day forecast

Today:

Most areas will have a dry day with some warm spells of sunshine, the most prolonged sunshine developing across the south and east of England. However, cloudier skies will affect some northern areas giving patchy rain, especially across western Scotland.

Tonight:

The far north and northwest of the UK will be cloudy with some rain at times. Elsewhere it will remain dry with clear periods. A few fog patches forming later.

Friday:

Outbreaks of showery rain will develop across Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and the west of England. Elsewhere it will stay largely dry with spells of sunshine. Very warm in places.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday:

Bright or sunny spells and a few showers on Saturday. High pressure building to bring a lot of dry weather during Sunday and Monday. Becoming more widely very warm.

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