The Scottish Highlands have set a new UK record high temperature, surpassing previous figures and making it the hottest January day ever recorded. According to provisional data from the

Met Office, Kinlochewe reached a peak of 19.6°C (67.3°F) on Sunday, exceeding temperatures in Rome and the Cote d'Azur.

If officially confirmed, this would mark the highest January temperature in the UK, surpassing the previous record set in 2003 by more than a full degree Celsius. Additionally, it would stand as the highest winter temperature ever recorded in Scotland.

The temperature recorded in Kinlochewe was notably higher than the 18.3°C (65°F) registered in Inchmarlo and Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, on January 26, 2003. The previous winter record for Scotland was 18.7°C (65.6°F) in Achfary, Sutherland, on December 28, 2018.

Donald MacLennan, manager of the Kinlochewe Hotel, confirmed the unusually warm conditions, noting that while it was "really hot outside," strong winds made it less enjoyable for residents. The village, situated in Wester Ross, has previously been recognized as one of the hottest places in the UK.

BBC Scotland forecaster and meteorologist Calum MacColl attributed the warm weather to the Foehn effect, where air rises over hills and mountains before descending on the leeward side. The stable atmospheric conditions contribute to higher temperatures, intensified by southerly winds bringing a mild air mass to Scotland.

Despite the warmth, Kinlochewe experienced gusty winds, prompting a yellow wind warning with forecasts of gusts exceeding 40mph. The Western Isles recorded a gust of 71mph during the period. Photo by john mcsporran from Trossachs, Scotland, Wikimedia commons.