Forecasters have revealed a “Heat Dome” is set to engulf the UK and Europe in hours sending temperatures rocketing above 40C.
Parts of the continent will be roasted in the 105F blast, while even Britian could see record-breaking temperatures for early autumn heading above 90F.
The unseasonal plume of extreme heat is expected to cover much of France, Germany the Low Countries and the UK starting tomorrow and rising throughout the week.
A Heat Dome phenomenon is caused when warmer air mounts in the atmosphere at levels usually occupied by cooler air.
According to Severe Weather Europe, temperatures in the air column at 4,000 feet above sea level should be around 6-7C around this time of year.
But a current of super-heated air on the way will lift those readings to closer to 20C, much higher than normal, and this will have a knock-on effect on ground level temperatures.
Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey said temperatures in the south of the UK could climb towards 30C by midweek. The far north of Scotland will likely be the only area of the country not seeing higher temperatures.
The weather body said conditions have also been affected by tropical cyclone Franklin moving north into the Atlantic off the US east coast.
Mr Vautrey said: “It has been building its way in from the Atlantic and it is going to be sticking with the vast majority of us throughout Saturday and Sunday.
“The best and most prolonged amount of sunshine will be further towards the south of the UK, with the cloud just coming and going a touch more across the far north and stretching down into central Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland as well.
“Temperatures will be continuing to climb widely into the mid-20s if not the high 20s by the time we reach Tuesday and Wednesday – 29C is certainly possible and we may also climb towards 30C in a few spots as well, and that is a temperature we haven’t reached since the very start of July.
“We might be into meteorological autumn, but it is giving us something a bit more summery that many of us have been missing.”
The Met Office said that as high pressure becomes established from this weekend, fine and settled conditions will develop and along with this there will be a rise in temperature across most parts of the UK next week.
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Chris Bulmer previously said: “Many places can expect to see maximum temperatures rise to 25C or above for several days, which would bring some locations into the realm of heatwave conditions.
“Although the highest temperatures are likely to be in the south and east of England, these areas also have higher temperature thresholds for heatwave conditions to be declared.
“So, while some areas may just miss out on the actual definition, regardless of thresholds, many areas will enjoy a fine period of weather with plenty of sunshine and temperatures are likely to be the highest for many since June or early July.”
