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Unlucky Friday 13th turned out to be Caithness’ warmest day





Friday the 13th is seen as unlucky, but many Caithness residents experienced the warmest day of the year so far, according to a local weather pundit.

Weather columnist Keith Banks said that the warmest day of the year for many in Caithness was on Friday, June 13, with a high of 19.1C (66.4F), logged in Wick and temperatures climbing into the low to mid 20s Celsius in favoured locations sheltered from a cool south-south-east breeze.

“After that, the county experienced its first substantial rainfall this year during the weekend,” said Keith.

This part of Wick river was recently reduced to a trickle but rain over the weekend has led to it being much fuller. Picture: Keith Banks
This part of Wick river was recently reduced to a trickle but rain over the weekend has led to it being much fuller. Picture: Keith Banks

“In Wick, a prodigious 42.6mm (1.68 inches) was recorded during the 48 hours ending at 7am (BST) on Monday, June 16. The long-term average amount for the town in June is 55.3mm (2.18 inches).”

He adds that Spring 2025 was exceptionally dry in the far north. Wick experienced its fifth driest spring since 1871 and the third driest since 1910.

“This spell of rainfall will be much welcomed and may help to preclude a decision mooted by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) to raise the current Moderate Water Scarcity status assigned to both the Wick and Thurso catchment areas to a Significant Water Scarcity status this week.

Wick river appears fuller than it has over the last few weeks of exceptionally dry weather. Picture: Keith Banks
Wick river appears fuller than it has over the last few weeks of exceptionally dry weather. Picture: Keith Banks

“However, having perused and assessed the latest operational weather forecast ensembles, the indications are that high pressure will reassert its influence across the UK and therefore I am not optimistic about further prolonged spells of useful rainfall that will be necessary to make up the ongoing deficit of rainfall.”


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