Remembering Scotland's infamous 1976 heatwave as hottest day of year forecast
The warm temperatures this weekend will be nothing compared to 1976.
So far, this summer in Scotland has been a wet and unpredictable affair. However, things are quickly looking up.
As we previously reported, temperatures around the country are set to soar this weekend. Friday in particular is expected to be a scorcher, with highs of 25C forecast for many and 27C predicted in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Although hot temperatures are somewhat or a rarity in Scotland, they are not unheard of. In fact, there have been numerous heatwaves over the years when the country baked in roasting—sometimes uncomfortably so— weather.
One of the most infamous heatwaves of all time in Scotland occurred back in 1976. The year's summer brought sweltering temperatures across the UK, with some areas recording highs of around 33C.
Unlike the heatwaves we are used to, this one didn't last a few days—or even weeks. Rather, almost the entire summer was searing.
Of course, many Scots headed straight to the beach and their local parks for a spot of sunbathing. Bays across the country were rammed, with people in Glasgow and Edinburgh flocking to west and east coast beaches respectively.
The streets were also filled with children playing until the late hours of the evening. In the case of a burst water pipe or fire hydrant, locals would quickly gather for a cooling and refreshing shower.
Unsurprisingly, the long spells of hot and dry weather also brought with it plenty of problems. Namely, a drought.
Grass and gardens all over Scotland were parched, with little water to spare. Some Scots reportedly resorted to using leftover dishwater to water their plants.
Scots in some parts of the country were even banned from using hoses. There would be no tending to their gardens or washing their cars until the heatwave subsided.
According to reports, it was so hot that pavements and tarmac began to melt. As reported by Glasgow Live, women's heels even gouged out shapes in concrete.
It was so bad that some Scots even saw snow ploughs out on the roads. However, instead of dropping grit, they dropped sand in an effort to prevent the tarmac softening.
Meanwhile, there were fears of food shortages. With farmers' crops failing due to the parched fields, prices for vegetables soared as more and more Scots craved refreshing salads.
While the start of the summer had brought with it balmy days out at the beach and evenings playing in the street, the novelty soon wore off for many people. With both indoors and outside being too hot, and many suffering from heatstroke and painful sunburns, the dream turned into a nightmare.
Thankfully, the heatwave eventually came to an end in August with heavy rain and thunderstorms. September and October were both also wet months, definitively putting an end to the infamous heatwave of 1976.
While hot temperatures are forecast this weekend in Scotland, with a possible heatwave on the way, it won't be anything like what Scots experienced almost 50 years ago.
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