A new heat record has been broken in January with the Met Office pinpointing a small Scottish village where the new highs were achieved.
The unlikely scenario happened on Sunday in Kinlochewe where thermometers reached 19.6C – beating off previous landmark readings of 18.3C in Inchmarlo and Aboyne in 2003 AND Aber in 1958 and 1971.
One meteorologist, Jim Dale, said: “The main reason [this has happened] being a topographical influence called the Foehn Effect. This is air warming up at a fast rate on the descent from the high ground of the Highlands.”
The Met Office has explained what the Foehn Effect is – and how it dramatically changes the climate; especially in Scotland which usually cops the brunt of cold weather extremes.
It says this phenomenon is common in mountainous regions, regularly impacting the lives of residents and influencing weather conditions for hundreds of kilometres downwind.
“Their notoriety has led to recognition by a multitude of names including: the Chinook or “snow eater” of the North American Rocky Mountains; the Zonda of the South American Andes; and the Helm wind of the English Pennines,” it said.
But, it says, the warmth can bring chaos in its wake, with avalanches in ski resorts, glacial melts and downstream flooding.
Mr Dale told Express.co.uk: “Records are records, it is a simple sign of the times. It’s normally a summer event, and more profound over the Rockies & Alps for example, but profound enough given the time of year (average coldest) and the very northerly location.”
It’s not just Scotland to have experienced some unseasonable highs today – much of England has basked in warmer than usual temperatures.
WXCHARTS weather maps have turned yellow, and show a warm plume of air rising up from northern Europe. The milder air has encapsulated the entire length and breadth of England, clipping Edinburgh in Scotland.
The heat itself has come from Spain and North Africa, two countries which have themselves broken their own January heat records.
Mr Dale added: “It has been mild but no confirmed records as yet beyond the one given (there will be local records but awaiting verifications).
“It’s all caused by a southerly airflow out of Spain and North Africa, both having seen all time January records in places.”
As a result of a fluctuating mercury for North Africa, a Saharan dust plume has so far prompted warnings in the Canary Islands as it travels northwards.
Brits, especially those living in the north and west, are likely to see some red fragments on cars in the next “few days”, Mr Dale said. These areas are pinpointed as the key recipients due to the rain that is forecast in both areas.
“The rain over the next few days is likely to contain Saharan sand, also translating to colourful sunrises/sunsets due to suspended sand/dust.”
