March 2012 United Kingdom heat wave
colspan="3" style="text-align:center; background:white style=;"color:black"| March 2012 United Kingdom heat wave |
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The United Kingdom cloud-free on 26 March 2012 |
Dates |
Areas affected |
Highest temperature |
The March 2012 United Kingdom heat wave was a period of unseasonable warm weather with temperatures getting above in many places. The average temperature for this time of year in the United Kingdom is . Aboyne, Scotland, recorded a temperature of on 27 March, the highest March temperature in Scotland since records began.
Meteorological history
The cause for 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.