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The March 2012 United Kingdom and Ireland heat wave was a period of unseasonable warm weather with temperatures getting above 20 °C (68 °F) in many places. The average temperature for this time of year in the United Kingdom is 10 °C (50 °F). Aboyne, Scotland, recorded a temperature of 23.6 °C (74.5 °F) on 27 March, the highest March temperature in Scotland since records began. For around eight days no clouds were visible for the majority of places in the UK, allowing the sun to shine straight down through the blue sky and induce high air temperatures. The high pressure also meant there was little wind to act as a coolant.
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Meteorological history
The cause of this heat wave was an area of high pressure anchored over the United Kingdom which was named Harry by the Free University of Berlin. This high-pressure area was kept in position by the jet stream and its associated frontal systems moving to the north of the country.
Impact
As temperatures soared across the United Kingdom, beaches became crowded and businesses in coastal resorts reported increased sales. However, there were also wildfires in some parts of the UK including one to the south of Dumfries which was started by controlled burning.
Aftermath
April, and in fact the rest of 2012 saw a very sudden and drastic turn around. April 2012 became the wettest April on record in much of the UK. This also led on to one of the wettest summers ever recorded in the UK.