Scores of Scots have started enjoying a so-called “Mediterranean melt” – with the mercury due to stay high over the coming days.
Sizzling highs pushed 28C in the north of Scotland yesterday and The Met Office is forecasting heat of up to 25C for later this week.
A wave of scorching air from Africa and the south of Spain is expected to sweep the nation during Thursday and Friday, bringing with it temperatures almost 10C above average for this time of year.
However, it is likely the sunny skies will be traded in for muggier conditions before then, with cloud cover and some showers expected to roll in briefly.
Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge said: “After 28C on Sunday in north-east Scotland, Scotland will warm up again during the week, with 25C on Thursday and Friday.
“These are good temperatures for Scotland, and well above average.”
The possibility has been raised that the sweltering temperatures could become some of the hottest recorded in July in the UK.
Heathrow Airport currently holds the record with a near-tropical 36.7C recorded on July 1, 2015.
So far, the hottest day of the year in Scotland was on June 28, when forecasters logged 31.9C.
Weather forecaster Steven Keates said: “Scotland is looking at around 28C on Sunday in the north-east and the mid to upper-20s into the week.
“The second half of the week has a more pronounced southerly feel, meaning the mid-20s again, still considerably above average.”
England is expected to bear the brunt of the soaring temperatures in the UK.
However the hot air is also forecast to concentrate its scorching gaze on parts of France, Scandanavia and the Baltics.
Despite their reputation as tourist trap hotspots – especially at this time of year – the south of Italy and Greece are expected to be among the cooler parts of Europe over the coming days.
The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: “Extreme heat is likely in England.
“Temperatures pushing into the mid-30s are expected, close to July’s temperature record.”
