SCOTLAND has seen temperatures top 30C for the first time in more than two years.
The Met Office said that the threshold had been hit at Aviemore, in the Highlands.
It said: “Temperatures in Scotland have exceeded 30 Celsius for the first time since the 13th June 2023.”
The average maximum temperature for Aviemore in July is 18.80C, according to Met Office data covering 1991-2020.
Temperatures in Scotland have exceeded 30 Celsius for the first time since the 13th June 2023 🌡️ pic.twitter.com/XGLoNQBDBn
— Met Office (@metoffice) July 12, 2025
The highest temperature ever recorded in Scotland was 34.8C, at Charterhall in the Borders in 2022.
Later on Saturday, the 30C threshold was hit at Magilligan, in Northern Ireland. It was the first time the nation has seen temperatures that high since July 2022.
On Friday, Wales recorded its hottest day of the year, with 32.4C in Cardiff’s Bute Park. Aboyne, a village in Aberdeenshire, recorded Scotland's hottest temperature that day, at 28.9C.
In England, temperatures reached 34.7C at Astwood Bank, near Worcester.
The average temperatures for this time of year across the UK range between 18C and 22C.
The heatwave has seen an “extreme” wildfire warning issued for much of Scotland, and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has asked people to avoid using anything involving a naked flame, such as campfires or barbecues.
The Met Office has said the current heatwave will last longer than the one experienced earlier this summer, and will cover a larger part of Scotland.
South of the border, amber heat health alerts are in place for the Midlands and southern and eastern England until 9am on Monday, warning of the potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions.
Fire chiefs have urged people to stay safe as they warned of the increased risk of wildfires and drowning.
The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) asked people not to enter water to try to cool down and urged parents and carers to ensure children are supervised around water at all times.
Phil Garrigan, NFCC chairman, said: “We are urging people to take simple but vital safety precautions to protect themselves and their loved ones during this period of hot, dry weather.
“Our experience tells us that wildfires can start in an instant and escalate rapidly. That’s why we’re asking everyone to stay alert and act responsibly.”
HM Coastguard also issued safety advice for people heading to the coast, as data from the water incident database shows most drownings happened in July over the last three years.
