When Scotland will get 'very severe thunderstorms' during UK heatwave this weekend

The weather looks set to be scorching for most of us across the next few days, but there are concerns in some areas.
The summer weather has finally arrived in June after a damp and dreary start to the month. Things are expected to heat u p over the next few days and Brits will be basking in sunshine this weekend.
Some parts of the UK are expected to have an official heatwave, where they enjoy three consecutive days meeting or exceeding the temperature threshold for their area.
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But even with all this positivity, the Met Office has issued a worrying warning that things could turn ugly for some of us on Saturday evening, June 21. Far from enjoying all-round sunshine, parts of Scotland could be set for "very severe thunderstorms".
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Meteorologist Aidan McGivern made the prediction during his weekend weather update, where he said Scotland's southern regions could face "large thunderstorms, frequent lightning, large hail, heavy rain, and gusty winds" tomorrow.
In a video posted on social media, Aidan spoke about the heatwave and the potential for some extreme weather. He said: "This Saturday is the Summer Solstice; peak sun strength. But also, in eastern parts of the UK, peak heatwave, with fresher air arriving through the day from the west.
"But as that fresher air collides with the plume of heat coming up from the south, we're likely to see some very severe thunderstorms in places."
The weather expert said that Friday's heat could lead to "an uncomfortable night for sleeping for many of us" and that temperatures would rise "quickly" on Saturday with "widespread warmth" and sunny skies, particularly in the east.
However, there is the likelihood of scattered showers for Scotland tomorrow morning. Aidan said: "We're already seeing additional cloud and some sporadic showers breaking out across Scotland, western England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. These will be very hit and miss through the day.
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"The odd rumble of thunder is possible with some of these showers but the main activity is likely to come towards the end of the afternoon and to the evening."
He continued: "Very hit and miss showers but by the end of the day we are concerned about all the ingredients coming together to provide the set up for some severe thunderstorms.
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"And the main focus region at the moment is across the central site of the UK; north Wales, north Midlands, northern England, southern Scotland.
"That's where there is the greatest risk of very large thunderstorms, frequent lightning, large hail, heavy rain, gusty winds for a few hours on Saturday late afternoon and into the evening.
"If this comes off - because all the ingredients are in the right place, but it's at the moment too early to say exactly when and where - then it would cause considerable impacts."
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But it wasn't all doom and gloom, as parts of the UK should see temperatures breaking the 30C barrier before the clouds burst on Saturday.
Aidan said: "Ahead of any shower development and cloud development, we're likely to see temperatures peak across eastern parts of England, the Midlands, into north east England, south east Scotland - high 20s, low 30s widely, perhaps as high as 33C. Or, if all the right conditions come together, 34C."
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He added: "But western areas are more likely to see the peak temperatures on Friday because, at this stage, fresher air is starting to make inroads, hence the patchy cloud and those sporadic showers breaking out as the day progresses.
And, unfortunately, the overnight head could mean a second disrupted sleep in a row for many of us. The meteorologist said: "We keep the plume of warm and increasingly humid air across eastern parts of the UK on Saturday night, so another uncomfortable night for sleeping in the east, perhaps a little more comfortable towards the west as that Atlantic air returns."
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Looking ahead to Sunday, there will be a bit of an east-west split in terms of the top temperatures. Aidan said: "[There is] a temperature contrast by the time we get to Sunday with that return to average towards the west, but we keep the warmth in the east and the potential for more sunny skies on Sunday."
And, even with temperatures expected to be in the high teens for much of Scotland on Sunday, it won't be without its wet weather.
Aidan said to expect "some showers, particularly across Scotland, Northern Ireland, north west England, and North Wales." And he revealed that there may be more thunderstorms to come too, but "not as severe as Saturday night's potential thunderstorms."

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