ABERDEEN today basked in glorious sunshine with the hottest day of the year.
And it saw Aberdeen’s sun-seekers in bikinis, kids licking ice lollies and sweltering beach-goers cooling off in the North Sea.
A high of 26C (78.8F) was recorded in the city but the Met Office said rain might affect Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire this afternoon.
A Met Office spokesman said thunderstorms could be on their way for the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire area.
By 11am today, the temperature had risen to 27C (80.6F) in London and 25.7C (78.2F) in Glasgow.
Yesterday, sunbathers sizzled in temperatures of 25.4C (77.7F) at beaches in Aberdeen, Stonehaven and Balmedie.
Aberdeen recorded temperatures hotter than Tenerife, which topped 25C (77F), and was the same temperature as Turkey’s Istanbul.
The warmest place in the North-east was Fyvie, Aberdeenshire, with highs of 27.4C (81.3F) recorded at the castle.
In Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, the temperature hit 27.2C (80.6F) and on the north coast, at Rosehearty, the temperature reached 20.5C (69F).
Even snow sports enthusiasts in Aberdeen were out in force enjoying the high summer temperatures.
Holly Smith, duty manager at Aberdeen Snowsports Centre in Garthdee, had a run down the dry ski slope in a bikini.
The 24-year-old said: “The centre was really busy. Out of season is a really good time to learn to ski or snowboard.
“Normally we don’t let people down the slopes without clothing but yesterday was really hot. It would’ve been nice to have some real snow in the heat.”
Met Office forecaster Sancha Lancaster said: “The temperature reached 25.4C (77.7F) by 11am in Aberdeen.”
But the temperature will have to rise a little higher if it is to break Aberdeen’s all-time record of 29.8C (85.6F), recorded on July 17, 2006.
Last month a report from the Met Office predicted the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire area would have hotter than usual summer temperatures.
The highest average temperature for July and August was predicted to be 18C (64F) for the area.
The hottest temperature recorded last year in the North-east was 25.3C (78F) in July, broken by yesterday’s high.
The highest temperature recorded in the UK last year was 30.2C (86F) in Cambridge.
Forecasters warned the fine weather was not here to stay for the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire area with showers predicted for later in the week.
Tomorrow was also forecast to see showers as temperatures were expected to drop to around 20C (68F).
And the weekend was to be around the same temperature with the sun set to break through the clouds.
The hot weather caused delays on the busy Auchmill Road in Aberdeen when tar failed to set.
One lane had to be closed between Aberdeen’s Haudagain roundabout and Dyce until around 7pm.
And there was flash flooding on roads around Alves and in Forres in Aberdeenshire caused by thunderstorms in the hot weather.
Roads affected in Aberdeenshire included Fleurs Walk, Stewart Street, Brodie Street, Councillors Walk and Cornhill Road in Forres and on the A96 at Alves Woods.
jwilson@ajl.co.uk