What heatwave? Shetland stays cool under grey skies

While large parts of the UK have been basking in a heatwave, it is overcast and grey in Shetland.

The sun only showed its face from behind the clouds for a short time this morning - but at least it's dry in the islands.

The temperature in Lerwick peaked at 16C earlier with a light south westerly wind.

In sharp contrast, Scotland has experienced its hottest day of the year, with temperatures peaking at 31.2C in Threave, Dumfries and Galloway.

The sweltering conditions mean that Scotland is officially experiencing a heatwave - with 25C and above recorded for three consecutive days.

The cooler conditions have not put off hundreds of tourists stepping ashore from two cruise ships visiting Shetland.

Rich Lancellot is on holiday from Florida in the US - where Scotland faced Brazil in sweltering conditions in their final World Cup group game -and took time to explore Lerwick.

He said: "I'm loving the cooler weather here. It's absolutely amazing we're so happy to be a in a cooler climate.

"I'm loving it. It's awesome here."

Rachel Nutman, from the Late District in Cumbria, is visiting with friends for two weeks.

"Today is a delightful temperature here," she said.

"When I knew we were coming up here and its 35C on the south coast its was relief to know it was only 15 or 16C here today."

The cooler climate is a big attraction for some during the summer months.

Bus tours guide Andrew Nicolson said: "It's Just Shetland weather, four seasons in one day.

"We just take what we get and we always remind the rest of the folk in the UK we're up here in the Shetland Islands looking down on the rest of the UK."

Joy Duncan, who lives in Scalloway, said: "There's many many brilliant reasons to live in Shetland but the weather is not one of them.

"While my friends are cooking and melting in London, I've got my jacket on here."

Joy said she would "love to melting" in London.

So why does Shetland never have a heatwave?

Fair Isle weatherman Dave Wheeler says the reason is simple.

"Shetland doesn't have the landmass to get warm," he said.

"The islands are surrounded by relatively cool seas even in summer. That keeps our temperatures down."

He said for the islands to warm up the wind direction needed change to draw warm air coming off the continent.

Dave said: "Our highest temperature was 22.6C in July 2022."

But he said warm air picked up moisture as it crossed over the sea, so inevitably that means cloudy conditions.

So if you want to escape the heatwave, come north to Shetland to cool down.