Britain is warming up for the fourth heat blast of summer with temperatures once again geared up to smash the mid-30Cs.
Tropical warmth from the Atlantic will rocket thermometers through Friday and into the weekend.
But a sharp U-turn from last week’s blazing sunshine threatens humid heat, rain and thunderstorms.
Weather experts have warned Britons to take cover for a volatile few days of weather ahead.
Alex Burkill, meteorologist for the Met Office, said: “There is definitely going to be a different feel to things this coming weekend compared to last weekend.
“It is potentially going to be pretty warm or hot with temperatures rising this week, and there is the potential we could get back into the low-30Cs in some places.
“It is going to be warm with some high humidity, and it is all of this that brings the potential for some heavier rain and the risk of thunder.”
Last week’s heatwave was driven by a ‘blocking’ pattern of high pressure wedging over the UK like a heat dome.
NETWEATHER
|NetWeather's maximum temperature for Friday
Low pressure will take its place through the coming days triggering a much wetter and windier outlook.
After a brief lull in the turbulence, next week will keep the unsettled theme as weather systems hurtle in from the west.
Burkill said: “Next week is likely to get off to a fairly settled start, and then we are looking at a changeable set up with a weather system coming through with a spell of rain and perhaps some strong winds, and then drier before the next weather system comes in.
“There are strong signs that a westerly is most likely, with systems rattling through relatively quickly.
NETWEATHER
|Sea level pressure across the UK today
Next week will be drying up compared to the weekend, and while there will be some rain at times, there will also be some drier and more settled periods.
“On the whole, temperatures will be a bit above average, so if you get any dry weather, it is going to feel warm or hot.”
Britain’s are warned to ‘watch their backs’ this weekend with a thundery deluge threatening floods.
Heavy downpours will offer little relief to parts of the country now in drought, running off dry ground in torrents.
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|WXCHARTS still has downpours across the UK this weekend
Jim Dale, meteorologist for British Weather Services and co-author of ‘Surviving Extreme Weather’, said: “We are going to be watching our backs through the end of the week and into the weekend with some heavy rain on the way, and this could arrive with thunderstorms.
“While this will bring some relief to regions which are in drought, because the ground is so dry, rain is more likely to run off bringing a risk of floods.
“It is looking a bit more settled after the weekend.”
WXCHARTS
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Rising temperatures could push Britain briefly back into heatwave territory, he warned.
He said: “We are likely to see temperatures rise again, perhaps into the high 20Cs.”
Jason Nicholls, lead international forecaster for AccuWeather, added: “There will be sunny periods at the end of the week, but during the weekend, a front will spread eastwards bringing rain.”