Sunglasses and shorts were the order of the day in the north east – though it might not be time to pack away the sweaters and snow boots just yet.
Temperatures in the north-east surged to double figures as plenty of walkers headed to Aberdeen beach to enjoy a stroll and a paddle.
Brave youngsters also took a dip in the North Sea while enjoying the sunshine. Weather experts said temperatures yesterday were “well above normal” with dry weather predicted for the rest of the week.
Further south, in London, geese enjoyed a good feed with spring just around the corner, as passers-by fed the birds in St James’ Park.
With the spring equinox drawing closer, Aberdeen reached a lofty 12.5 degrees at Aberdeen Airport and in Aberdeenshire and Moray, the mercury rose further still to 14.4 degrees.
Meanwhile in the Cairngorms, tourist hotspot Aviemore lived up to its reputation with sizzling spells of 14.8 degrees.
In the far north in Lerwick, temperatures reached a high of 11 degrees, which was higher than in Inverbervie – where the coastal town registered 9.2 degrees by the sea breeze.
Scotland’s hottest temperature was 16.1 degrees in Ayrshire, which was only fractionally behind Britain’s top temperature of 16.2 degrees in the coastal town of Porthmadog in North Wales.
But, despite a sunny return to work for many in the north-east, today’s temperatures will be back in single figures.
Met Office weather experts are expecting more cloud and possible haar on the east coast of Scotland, which will mean a fall in temperatures.
The “greyer and mistier” scenes on the east coast are likely to bring an end to the warm spell.
North Sea air is expected to push down the warmth as the week continues, but temperatures will remain higher in the west of Scotland, according to weather experts.
Tomorrow, they are expected to fall to about seven degrees on the east coast though it should remain dry this week.
A Met Office spokesman said: “It will not be too bad. Just back down to slightly below average for March.”
