Britain is about to boil in the first heatwave of summer, with the nation to roast in a tropical plume from the continent.
Thermometers will rocket through the coming days, hitting danger levels by the weekend, experts warn.
Highs of 28C and above, the heatwave threshold, are forecast across southern and central regions.
Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said: “There are signs that we could see another heatwave by the end of the week and into the weekend
“We could get temperatures, particularly across central-eastern parts, of 27C or 28C, so we could be looking at getting to heatwave threshold.
“Thursday is likely to be the first hot day before temperatures rise through the weekend.”
This week will bring the first heatwave of summer, the last having hit the country during the end of spring.
Scorching temperatures this week, however, will be driven by hot air sweeping up from the continent.
Scorching temperatures this week will be driven by hot air sweeping up from the continent
|WXCHARTS
May’s record temperatures were the result of a high-pressure ‘heat dome’ settling over the UK like a magnifying glass.
Mr Burkill said: “We are going to see our weather quietening down as high pressure builds across us, and warmer air is coming in, so temperatures are rising.
“This set-up is different from the heatwave in May, so there is uncertainty about the temperatures, but it looks like a heatwave at the end of the week and into the weekend isn’t out of the question.”
The warmth will follow an unsettled start to the week in parts, he added, with the highest temperatures to hit central and eastern counties.
He continued: “Unsettled weather comes in from the west on Monday and makes its way across the country by the middle of the week, so it is going to be more unsettled and more changeable.
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“But also, it is turning milder as warmer air comes towards the south, and with hot air to the south of us, we are going to see temperatures rising.
“So, even though things are going to be unsettled at the start of the week, we are going to see temperatures rising.”
Temperatures could hit 30C this weekend as officials warn to brace for an official heatwave – three or more days of temperatures staying above threshold values.
Hot air from the continent will bring the hottest weather to southern, central and eastern counties, with northern Britain missing the direct blowtorch hit.
Jim Dale, meteorologist for British Weather Services and co-author of ‘Surviving Extreme Weather’, said: “Temperatures will rise through the week as high pressure builds to the south and brings warm air in from the Continent.
“The hottest weather is forecast for the south of the country, and it will be fresher further north.
“The southeast could hit 30C by the weekend, and this would put the UK back into heatwave territory.”
Rising temperatures have prompted bookmakers to take the axe to odds on this summer smashing records
|NETWEATHER
Rising temperatures have prompted bookmakers to take the axe to odds on this summer smashing records.
Coral spokesman John Hill said: “Britons appear to be betting on swapping their brollies for sun loungers this summer.
“Support for a record-breaking summer has been relentless, and it's now the odds-on favourite.”