Summer is finally on its way with the arrival of a 32C ‘Spanish plume’ to UK shores later this week.
Experts say Britain should start preparing for its “first properly hot summer’s day” of the year.
Hot conditions and wall-to-wall sunshine will sweep in from Wednesday, making parts of the country warmer than Hawaii.
Temperatures in London could reach 32C on Friday and Saturday, while the thermometer will hit 25C in Manchester and 21C in Edinburgh.
Friday is expected to be the hottest day of the year so far, beating the 27.5C recorded at Heathrow on May 17.
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“There’s not been much in the way of exceptionally warm days or hot days yet this year, but that is set to change,” the Met Office ’s Steven Keates said.
“We’re set to see probably a brief spell of hot weather at the end of this coming week.”
South East England may experience temperatures of 32C (89.6F) on Friday, although Mr Keates added: “It could possibly be a little hotter than that ... mid-thirties are possible.”
But it will not officially be declared a heatwave, which the Met Office defines as three successive days of temperatures above 28C.
Heat has been pushed from the north African desert into Europe, bringing sweltering conditions to Spain and France.
The Spanish meteorological agency last week issued warnings of “extreme” temperatures of 40C+ in some places.
High pressure will cause the warm air to move further northwards early this week, arriving in the UK on Wednesday - with the hottest day of the year so far under threat.
“We should beat that comfortably on Friday and potentially exceed it, or get very close to it, on Wednesday and Thursday as well,” Mr Keates said.
The meteorologist added that heatwaves - three consecutive days of high temperatures - were possible between June and mid-September.
“We think at the moment it will be warmer than average with an increasing likelihood of heatwaves,” he said.
“There have been no heatwaves so far this year... the greater likelihood is that it’s going to be the further south, south east, you are.”
It is good news for racegoers heading to Royal Ascot, with no rain in the forecast for the annual event.
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But hay fever sufferers have been warned to prepare for a deluge of sneezes because of high levels of ‘potent’ pollen.
The highest June temperature ever recorded in the UK was 35.6C in Southampton in 1976, a year that saw a severe drought.
Sadly forecasters say the summery conditions are unlikely to last for British sun seekers.
They are predicting “changeable conditions” and above average rainfall towards the end of the month.
