Scots homes urged to close windows and blinds on Friday
Households across the country are being urged to keep their windows, blinds and curtains closed this week as temperatures are set to soar. With glorious sunshine expected in the days ahead, experts have revealed key ways to ensure your house remains cool and comfortable.
Friday (June 20) is set to be the warmest day over the coming week, with the majority of the country enjoying temperatures in the mid-20s. Glasgow could hit 25C, while Edinburgh is on course to bag 24C, and Aberdeen is expecting highs of around 22C. Looking ahead to the following week, STV weatherman Sean Batty, believes another surge of heat may arrive late next weekend or early in the week of June 23.
"Some models are hinting at a more intense bubble of heat, possibly pushing temperatures close to 30°C in some locations," he told the broadcaster, before adding: "But this is just speculative at this stage."
Insulation experts at Construction Megastore Building Materials have issued various tips to keep cool when the mercury rises uncomfortably high, including blocking out the sunlight in to reduce the heat indoors.
Insulation gurus at the firm said: "To prevent rooms from overheating, keep blinds or curtains closed during the sunniest parts of the day, particularly on south-facing windows, reports the Express.
"Blackout curtains or reflective linings can help block out heat."
The British Red Cross also makes the recommendation in its advice on keeping your home cool, but adds that "hanging a bed sheet or towel should have a similar effect" if you don't have curtains or blinds.
The charity also recommends waiting "until the cooler times of the day to open windows", rather than letting warmer air in.
"When they are open, you can creating a breeze in your home by opening different windows to help air to circulate."
Other guidance includes making sure your central heating and other heat-creating appliances and electronic are turned off, or seeking out cool, well air-conditioned environments like libraries if it's too hot at home.
The NHS warns that heatwaves can increase the chance of serious illness and even lead to fatalities, with young children and elderly people most vulnerable.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
The main risks heatwaves bring are:
Not drinking enough water (dehydration)
Overheating, which can make symptoms worse for people who already have problems with their heart or breathing
Heat exhaustion and heatstroke
You can find tips from the health service on how to stay cool on their website.
The Met Office categorises a heatwave as when a location records at least three consecutive days of temperature values reaching or rising above the heatwave temperature threshold, which varies by location.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
18 hours ago
- Daily Record
Remove stubborn sun cream stains this summer using cheap £1 hack
Sun cream can stain clothing very easily and can be very difficult to banish. As temperatures continue to warm up, many people are spending more and more time soaking up the sunshine. Whether it's a day lounging by the pool or relaxing in your back garden, summer can bring a fresh set of challenges to your wardrobe. There's much fun to be had during the holidays, but with this comes an increased load on your washing machine. Think sandy clothes, sunscreen stained clothes and post-festival muddy trainers. We tend to wash our clothes more frequently in the warmer months due to increased sweating and exposure to the elements, but it's important to know how to tackle these summer stains without damaging your washing machine. One of the most searched for cleaning terms during the summer months is 'how to remove sun cream'. This is because sunscreens contain oils which can very easily leave yellow or orange grease stains on your clothing. The chemical most widely used is avobenzone, and when combined with either water or perspiration, it can cause rusty coloured stains which can be difficult to banish. Thankfully, there's a cheap way to remove the pesky stains from your clothing and you'll likely already have the product in your cupboard. According to Ian Palmer-Smith, an appliance repair expert at Domestic & General, white wine vinegar, which can be bought for as little as £1 from supermarkets, will keep your clothes stain-free. Ian said: "Suncreams usually have an oil base, so white wine vinegar can be really handy when it comes to breaking these stains down. Cover the stain in vinegar and leave for twenty to thirty minutes before rinsing. Machine wash the garment in the hottest temperature that is suitable for it, and check that the stain has gone before drying." According to Ian, the same goes for sweat stains. He added: "Pre-treat the affected with vinegar for up to half an hour. Make sure to thoroughly rinse the vinegar off before machine washing as usual. "I would not recommend using vinegar directly in your washing machine because the acidity can corrode rubber elements over time. Instead, opt for regular laundry detergent for the wash cycle to avoid needing a washing machine repair.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. To bring trainers back to life after a summer of fun, Ian recommends putting trainers into a pillowcase or wrapping them up in towels when washing them as this protect your shoes as well as reducing potential for damage to your washing machine. He added: "Trainers made of cotton, canvas, polyester or nylon are typically more durable and able to withstand being put through a wash cycle. Some trainers' adhesives are heat sensitive even to low temperatures so always check this beforehand. 'To ensure your trainers come out of the machine in pristine condition it's important to spot, clean and scrub any caked-on dirt off the trainers first."
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Expert issues stark heatwave prediction amid dramatic rise in Scotland's flip-flop weather
LAST weekend the sun was splitting the skies as the mercury hit a searing 32°C – with Scots heading to beaches to soak up the rays. But just days later the temperatures have plummeted to as low as 15C with torrential rain that has caused localised flooding. 3 Beaches were mobbed at the weekend as Scots soaked up the sun 3 Last year places like Malaga were flooded The conditions have been dubbed 'weather whiplash' – but these extremes of glorious sunshine followed by heavy rainfall are set to become the norm across the UK. Today, we speak to STV weather-man Sean Batty about our flip flop summer. SEAN Batty has watched this summer's stats in amazement as Malaga was lashed with 300mm of torrential rainfall at the exact same time East Lothian was left parched by just 20mm. Then Aviemore topped the temperature charts with 32.2c at the weekend, while Scots are now having to endure temps of just half that, along with prolonged downpours in a phenomenon nicknamed 'weather whiplash'. 3 STV presenter Sean Batty said our flip flop summer is just getting started But Sean believes that this summer of madness is only just getting started. He said: 'One of the most concerning trends we're seeing is the increasingly extreme heat, which is becoming a regular feature of Mediterranean summers. 'Record-breaking temperatures are now the norm across the region, and if that wasn't enough, the weather swings have become more dramatic — just look at Spain. 'After enduring a relentlessly wet and flood-prone spring, the country is now facing intense heat. 'In Malaga, a popular holiday destination for many Scots, the summer was unusually wet, with nearly 300mm of rain—far above average—while places like East Lothian saw barely 20mm in the same period. Simple five-second rule to see if it's too hot to walk your dog and how to tell the four-legged friend has had a heatstroke, expert reveals 'What's also worrying is that temperatures in parts of Spain and Portugal have already hit the mid-40s on several occasions — and this is before we've even reached the typically hotter period of August. 'It's because of this extreme heat to our south that we've been hitting the high 20s and low 30s when we pick up a southerly air flow.' For that reason Sean is not surprised the term 'weather whiplash' has been doing the rounds on X and Facebook. He says: 'It isn't an official meteorological term, it's more of a social media creation that's gained traction in recent years to describe the increasingly dramatic swings in weather we're experiencing. 'In Scotland our summers flip flop like this. Usually high pressure lasts a little longer in May and June and this is why we had a much longer spell of fine, albeit not quite as warm, weather back then. 'Then when it gets to the Scottish school holiday season we tend to have more of what I call 'one day wonders' where we get red hot heat and sunshine which is then quickly followed by a return to rain.' This year has also seen an outbreak of wildfires, including the biggest one ever recorded covering 37 square miles in Invernessshire. Sean, 43, said: 'Wildfires seemed to break out everywhere during the spring. 'That was largely due to the extended spell of dry weather, which significantly increased the fire risk. 'Dead vegetation and weeds left over from the previous year had dried out over winter, creating a bed of highly flammable material. All it takes is a stray match or an unattended BBQ to ignite it. 'At this time of year, you'll also notice just how quickly the ground dries out after a shower. 'It's a clear sign of how intense our summer sun can be and, after just a few days like this, conditions can become risky." What's more, it doesn't always take an open flame to start a wildfire. Something as simple as a discarded glass bottle can concentrate sunlight enough to ignite dry grass or heather.' It was reported this week that air conditioning sales in the UK have seen an increase of 64 per cent in the last year. And while that will mainly be in the South East of England, Sean believes air con could become a norm in Scotland too. He said: 'What you have to remember when it comes to heat is that us Scots are less tolerant of it. 'That's why the heatwave threshold is three days above 28C in London compared to 25C in Scotland. 'So with surges of increasingly warm air each year it'll no doubt have more people requesting to have air conditioning installed in the coming years.' And Sean remains confident that records will continue to fall over the next five years due to the dramatically changing weather conditions. He said: 'We're seeing volatile weather becoming more frequent—everything from massive snowfalls and powerful wind storms to extreme heat and intense downpours. 'I have predicted that we'll likely break Scotland's current record high of 34.8C, set in 2022, within the next five years. 'While it still seems very unlikely that we'll reach the 40s as seen in parts of England—at least within our lifetimes—one thing I've quickly come to realise is that, with weather like this, you can never say never. 'The pace of change has been staggering - even surprising meteorologists at just how rapidly records are falling.'
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Daily Record
Warning to UK holidaymakers after Greece announces 'shut down' as temperatures soar
Temperatures are currently soaring across the popular tourist hotspot. UK holidaymakers heading to Greece this summer are being warned after the country announced a shutdown in areas popular with tourists. As the country battles a severe heatwave, authorities took the decision to close certain (literal) hotspots. Iconic Athens landmarks the Acropolis will be closed and outdoor work in parts of the country will also be halted. The ancient monument will be off limits until 5pm on Tuesday for the 'safety of workers and visitors, owing to high temperatures. ' According to the Greek Ministry of Labour outdoor work will also be halted from 12pm to 5pm in multiple regions, including islands popular with UK holidaymakers, reports Birmingham Live. Michalis Keskinidis, a 43-year-old courier told the AFP news agency: "Days with a heatwave make my job more difficult. 'We drink a lot of water, use electrolytes, and take breaks whenever possible.' According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - the UN body responsible for assessing climate change - it is now "unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land". Climate scientist Professor Ed Hawkins from Reading University warns that "1C of global warming does NOT mean that heatwaves 'just' get hotter by 1C. Over large parts of the UK, global warming means that heatwaves are 3-4C warmer". Climate projections from the Met Office indicate that "hot spells will become more frequent in our future climate, particularly over the southeast of the UK. Temperatures are projected to rise in all seasons, but the heat would be most intense in summer." The BBC Weather team says: "Friday's update could provide more clarity about the most likely conditions for next week and give a further outlook for the period after that which might indicate if we are going to see cooler conditions towards the end of July and into August." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The Met Office expects a largely dry and sunny day away from the extreme northwest of Scotland where there will still be some cloud and patchy drizzle. Hot elsewhere in the sunshine but slightly cooler along eastern coasts. Its forecast says: "Dry and clear for most with some locally high temperatures, making it feel muggy for some. Some low cloud and sea fog around coastal areas." The Met Office expects a largely dry and sunny day away from the extreme northwest of Scotland where there will still be some cloud and patchy drizzle. Hot elsewhere in the sunshine but slightly cooler along eastern coasts. Its forecast says: "Dry and clear for most with some locally high temperatures, making it feel muggy for some. "Some low cloud and sea fog around coastal areas."
