Scotland has recorded its hottest day of the year and there were warnings of potential travel disruption as the hot weather is expected to continue in the coming days.
Temperatures reached a high of 29.4C at Dyce in Aberdeen on Tuesday, according to Met Office data.
Fyvie Castle in Aberdeenshire recorded a high of 29C on the same day while temperatures of 28.7C were recorded at Aboyne in Aberdeenshire, Leuchars in Fife and Edinburgh.
While temperatures in Scotland are not expected to soar as high as south of the border, they could still reach up to 30C in some areas this week.
ScotRail said that high temperatures can pose challenges for the railway as steel rails expand as they heat up in direct sunlight.
It warned that temporary speed restrictions may be put in place on some routes to ensure services continue to operate safely, which could lead to slightly longer journey times and, in some cases, minor service alterations.
Mark Ilderton, ScotRail service delivery director, said: “As temperatures rise across Scotland this week, we’re encouraging customers to take a few simple steps to help ensure they have a safe and comfortable journey.
“Staying hydrated, checking your journey before travelling, and speaking to a member of staff if you feel unwell can all make a big difference.
“Hot weather can also create challenges for the railway, and there may be occasions where temporary speed restrictions are introduced to maintain the safe operation of services.
“We encourage customers to plan ahead and check for the latest travel information before setting off.
“Whether it’s carrying a bottle of water, looking out for others, or asking for help when it’s needed, small actions can help keep everyone safe.”
A red weather warning of extreme heat is in force in parts of southern England and Wales on Wednesday and into Thursday.
North of the border, forecasters predict that temperatures may rise into the low 30s, potentially breaking the record June temperature of 32.3C recorded at Ochtertyre in Perthshire on June 18 1893, before cooling down over the weekend.
Met Office meteorologist Honor Criswick said: “There is a chance we might break that tomorrow because we are expecting temperatures to get into the high 20s and possibly the low 30s so it does threaten the Scottish June record, there is the potential to break it.
“But it’s not going to last too much longer. Into tomorrow lots of southern Scotland should be quite fine and dry. It’s going to be very warm and quite humid at times.
“Across the central belt and parts of Aberdeenshire, perhaps a little bit cloudier than recent days.
“Then across the far north of Scotland there is going to be some rain, a chance that this could be a little bit heavy with some rumbles of thunder and, where you’re stuck under the cloud across the far north of Scotland, temperatures won’t be as high, somewhere around the mid teens.”
She said that temperatures on Friday will still be fairly warm but many areas will be much cloudier with some patchy rain.
Similar conditions are expected at the weekend, with temperatures gradually cooling down.
The 29.4C recorded at Dyce on Tuesday beat this year’s previous record high temperature, a reading of 28.1C which was recorded at Floors Castle in the Borders on May 25, the BBC reported.
Ross Moran, Network Rail Scotland route director, said: “We know hot weather can sometimes affect how the railway runs.
“That’s why our teams are keeping a close eye on conditions and carrying out extra checks across the network to keep services moving.
“We’re not expecting the same extreme temperatures as elsewhere in the UK, but we’re prepared for warmer weather and ready to act if needed.
“We’d encourage passengers to check their journey before travelling and take care in the heat.”
