When we have a warm spell of weather in autumn, you will often hear the term ‘Indian summer’
It’s a wet start to the month for many Scots and it looks like that might continue throughout September
Scotland has enjoyed a very decent summer all things considered. Despite recording six storms since September last year, the country has enjoyed five heatwaves and a number of pleasant, sunny days which we have all lapped up.
On the last day of August, and on the last day of meteorological summer, Kinloss, a quaint village in Moray, recorded 11.5 hours of sunlight in just 24 hours. After all, we are good at prolonging the light this side of the border.
However, as we now usher in September, and the prospect of autumn, attention is now turning to the question of whether Scotland will get a bit more heat and sunshine in the form of an Indian summer.
The Met Office Meteorological Glossary defines Indian summer as “a warm, calm spell of weather occurring in autumn, especially in October and November”.
For September, long-range weather maps from WXcharts show a warm Iberian plume moving over southern England and Wales in the early part of next month, bringing highs of 30C on September 8.
The mercury is set to hit 30C but only in certain parts of the country(Image: Getty)
The southeast is set to see the hottest weather, while the southwest, central England and Wales are also expected to experience higher-than-usual temperatures.
However, northern England and Scotland will see cooler conditions of around 14C, with things taking on a decidedly more autumnal feel towards the northern tip of Scotland, where daytime temperatures may only reach 8C.
According to the Met Office’s long-range weather outlook for Friday, September 5 until Sunday, September 14, showers or longer spells of rain are set to thrash much of the UK at times. Not conducive to an Indian Summer.
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“Some heavy rain or showers are expected in places, most often in the west,” the forecast states.
“Thunderstorms and hail are possible, as are some spells of strong winds.
“Some short-lived spells of drier and more settled weather are also possible at times, especially early and again late in the period, when they may last a little longer.
“Temperatures will likely be close to average or slightly below overall, but may rise above at times in any drier, sunnier spells.”
From Monday, September 15 until Monday, September 29, again, rain and showers take centre stage, although there will “likely be some drier, more settled interludes, particularly at the start of the period.”
The mercury will remain pretty average, perhaps turning warmer later in the month, but the Met Office’s UK temperature map shows a fairly standard picture, with the mercury sitting in the mid-teens until early next week.
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So, while a mini Indian summer may be on the cards down south, it looks like Scotland will not bask in similarly toasty temperatures. Instead, our landscape will take on a wetter complexion, with bursts of sunshine throughout.
Elsewhere, the Met Office has warned that the unprecedented conditions of this summer have triggered a phenomenon known as ‘false autumn’, where leaves turn brown and fall earlier than they’re supposed to.
The “exceptional warmth and dryness” of the past three months has caused plants and trees to respond as if the season has already changed, even though meteorological autumn only officially started today, September 1.