When it comes to weather, Scotland doesn’t have the best reputation in the world – it will be cold and humid everywhere. Still, with the right attitude and a few simple tips, catching up with the Scottish climate is a snap.
Importance of choosing your side
«It rains all the time in Scotland“. False! Even though Scots has a favorite word in the Scots language dreich : moist grayness that makes the season long and monotonous … If, at the beginning of spring and autumn, it is rare to have a whole day without any rain, then at the end there are moments when it rains for several days in a row. is. But it depends a lot on the place you choose to stay: in short, to avoid bad weather, favor the Atlantic Ocean, rather than the west coast, to the North Sea, the east coast.
read file:Scotland: Travel Guide Figaro
How to explain such variations? This is due to the fact that moist air comes to Scottish lands from the Atlantic. The air rises and cools due to the barrier presented by the relief of the highlands, causing precipitation. This is a geographical effect. This wind, which then moves to the lowlands in the east of the country, dries up, which is why Scotland’s sunniest cities are on this side.
Dundee, 1h15 north of Edinburgh by train, bears the nickname Sunny Dundee. It is the Scottish city, with the capital, with the fewest rainy days, with a total of 124 days, and the most hours of sunshine (1,426 hours per year), followed by Aberdeen, more to the north, with 139 rainy days. Per year. Glasgow, on the other hand, tops the list of cities with the most rainfall, with 170 days and 1124 mm of rain per year.
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Sunscreen, an unexpected ally
still wrong! However, there is one joke you hear all the time as we approach June: “I love summer in Scotland, it’s my favorite day of the year”. In fact, don’t expect temperatures to exceed 30 degrees to sunbathe on the beach and swim in warm waters like Corsica’s: Hot days may come, but though summer episodes Having multiplied in recent years, they are rare. Good for most Scots who hate hot weather!
However, this is not a reason to forget solar cream When you come to Scotland: Be sure to apply it from the beginning of spring, where the UV indices are strong from April onwards, even if it is still cold. Every year there are impressive photos of people needing hospital treatment for severe sunburn.
Scotland in general experiences some extreme weather conditions, whether in the direction of summer or cold: the temperatures never rise very high, but they do not drop very low even in winter (although the temperature changes due to wind and humidity). The experience can be freezing). However, we remember the snowy episode of winter 2018 where animals from the east Scotland and the rest of Europe were plunged into a severe cold.
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“There is no bad weather, only bad equipment”
If there’s one lesson you learn quickly when it comes to living in Scotland, it’s this: If you wait for perfectly bright weather to step outside, then, especially in autumn and winter, it means that we never go out. four seasons in one day It’s no myth: There are days when you go from scorching sun to rain and turn into snow and hail in a matter of hours.
Since you can easily be surprised by a sudden change in weather, once again due to Scotland’s geographical location, you should know how to equip yourself: waterproof clothing (especially jackets and boots – ‘to keep wet feet all day’ Nothing worse than this), isn’t too thick when the temperature starts to rise, and is layered so you can easily remove the layers when it’s too hot. For example, prefer a cardigan over a long-sleeved T-shirt instead of a chunky sweater.
If you choose an umbrella to stay dry, be sure to take a repellent so it doesn’t expand the graveyard. Broken Brolys, Broken Canopies, Scottish City. In Glasgow, these umbrellas are given a second life, thanks to the work of Laurence Estanov, a French woman who recycles textiles from discarded umbrellas into waterproof bags and pouches.
Storms from the Atlantic depressions, especially in autumn and winter, make Scotland the windiest country in Europe. However it is an asset to this nation of the United Kingdom which in 2020 generated 97.4% of its electricity for renewable energy, of which 70% thanks to onshore wind power, is falling short of its target of 100%.
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