An American living in Scotland has described the lack of air conditioning during the summer heatwave as 'hellish', prompting a plea for advice on finding cooler locations. TikTok user @maggielizsmith shared a video on July 14, expressing her struggle with rising temperatures in Glasgow, where highs of 27C (80F) were forecast.
Heatwave Hits Scotland
According to weather maps, temperatures across Scotland are expected to reach the high twenties this week, with forecaster Sean Batty predicting highs of 29C in Dumfries and Galloway, Glasgow, and Ayrshire on Thursday, July 16. Many residents are feeling uncomfortable as homes, built to retain heat, become stifling.
In her video, Maggie said: 'I'm an American living abroad and I have to tell you what it's like to live without air conditioning. Hell. It is hell out here. It is supposed to be 80F (27C) tomorrow and I'm dreading it. I'm actually planning a trip to an island just because I cannot imagine being here in my flat in Glasgow.'
American's Struggle with Scottish Heat
Despite coming from Oklahoma, where summer temperatures can reach 49C (120F), Maggie finds the Scottish heatwave unbearable due to the lack of air conditioning and high humidity. She described her daily routine: 'I prepare for the heat like I'm preparing for war. I wake up in the morning - sticky. I go to bed - gross. I take cold showers and everything that I can. I got this fan. It helps a little bit but this is just blowing hot air!'
She added: 'They love to say "oh, our houses are built to retain heat. It's not going to work in this new climate". But here's the thing, it's not warm in here in the winter. My room is freezing all winter.'
Social Media Reactions
Other TikTok users echoed her sentiments. One commented: 'As a Brit, it is absolute hell. I dread any day over 27 degrees.' Another Scot wrote: 'If you find somewhere take me with you please!!! Fellow Glasgow girlie.' Some shared survival tips, such as 'Lying in bed in Glasgow holding the same fan lol' and 'I'm officially nocturnal to beat the heat.'
A fellow American agreed: 'I grew up in Florida and North Carolina. The heat here is awful. The 70%+ humidity EVERY SINGLE DAY definitely doesn't help.'
Cooler Nights Ahead
Despite the daytime heat, meteorologist Sean Batty warned that nights may be significantly cooler, with some spots in the Borders, South Lanarkshire and the Highlands dropping close to 5C. Maggie ended her video with a plea: 'If anybody has any recommendations for places with air conditioning that I can go to tomorrow, please let me know. I'm about to just fly back to the States.'
