Scotland ‘in front line of climate change’ as temperature soars
River levels are causing concern in Scotland as the unseasonably warm and dry weather continues. Tuesday is likely to be hotter in the west Highlands than in Morocco, with the BBC predicting that the temperature will reach 25C, a degree higher than Marrakesh, the African country’s fourth-largest city.
Visitors to the Cairngorms National Park, near Aviemore, were warned not to have barbecues after an “extreme” warning for wildfires was extended across mainland Scotland.
A helicopter drops water on to burning trees in Fauldhouse. People who live nearby have been told to keep their doors and windows shut
JEFF J MITCHELL/GETTY IMAGES
So far this month the country has had only 2.9mm of rain, which is only 3 per cent of the total expected for all of a typical May. The driest recorded May in Scotland was in 1859, when 9.6mm of rain fell.
Parts of the country are beginning to show signs of water scarcity, with half of river catchments now at “alert” status, according to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa).
The risk is categorised in four levels: early warning, alert, moderate scarcity and significant scarcity.
The statuses of the river catchments of the Nith and Dee (in Galloway), the Cree, Doon, Clyde, Irvine and Ayr have been raised to alert, bringing the number of warnings to 23. Scotland’s other catchments are all on early-warning status except the Inner Hebrides, which is still normal.
Sepa began to warn about a greater risk of water scarcity at the start of March after low rainfall over the autumn and winter.
Eilidh Johnston, a senior manager with Sepa, said: “We expect ground conditions to continue getting drier and river flows to decrease or remain low.
The Orrin river has been reduced to a trickle because of the long dry spell
PETER JOLLY
“We have been warning since the start of spring that continued drier weather could disrupt agricultural activities, strain local water supplies and impact industries that depend on consistent water availability.
“The next few weeks and months are a crucial time of year for water demand and those who take water from our environment must manage it wisely, minimising the need for restrictions to be imposed by Sepa.”
The dry weather has been blamed for a wildfire in West Lothian on Saturday. The fire service had earlier warned of an “extreme” risk of wildfires.
Nine appliances and 50 firefighters were dispatched to the blaze in woods near Fauldhouse. A helicopter was sent to help bring the blaze under control.
Crews were still at the scene on Sunday afternoon and people who live nearby were urged to keep windows and doors closed because of the smoke.
The Scottish Greens said that the extreme wildfire warning signalled that Scotland was on the front line of the climate crisis.
Ariane Burgess, an MSP, said: “We aren’t even in the height of our summer yet and we are already seeing our woodlands burning and warnings in place across much of the country.”
“Scotland is blessed with amazing and iconic landscapes that attract visitors from across the world. But they are also homes and places where people live and work. With our climate changing around us, they are being put at growing risk and thrust on to the front line of the climate crisis.”
Meanwhile, police said that a man’s body had been recovered after a search for a 42-year-old swimmer who went missing in Loch Ard, in the Trossachs National Park.
A search began after he was reported missing at 9pm on Saturday. His body was found on Sunday afternoon and his next of kin have been informed.
The Green Party said Scotland was on the front line of climate change as the fire in Fauldhouse burnt overnight on Saturday
Police Scotland’s diving and marine unit was involved, along with a mountain rescue team and an air support unit. The B829 road was closed for a period during the search. There are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.