BRITAIN is set for the hottest day of the year as a 31 degree 'tropical plume' is heading for the UK.
Satellite pictures have shown warm temperatures en route to replace the overcast week of thunderstorms, rain and even some snow to give Brits a scorcher by Wednesday.
The Met Office predicted temperatures could soar to 31 degrees in south east England.
The warmest weather seen so far this year was 28.9 degrees in May, which hit Scotland's Dawyck Botanic Garden.
Met Office Meteorologist John Griffiths told The Sun Online: "In terms of what we are likely to see in parts of southern and central UK later next week, the chances are that we could well exceed those values.
"It's quite likely that we will see at least 28/29 degrees and a chance we could exceed 30.
"On Monday we will have a low pressure system moving to the north west of the UK which will bring wind and rain to parts of Northern Ireland and western/central Scotland. But the rest of the UK will see plenty of warm sunny spells."
He said the Met is predicting temperatures of 20-22 degrees and maybe even 25 in some areas on Monday but further outbreaks of rain are forecasted for Tuesday .
Mr Griffiths added: "The south east will be generally quite sunny with very little in the way of cloud probably peaking around 27/28 degrees.
"Elsewhere even into parts of northern England you could be seeing 23-25 degrees but it's going to be a bit cloudy there.
"Wednesday is going to be more widely sunny with temperatures climbing still for many with some of that heat going into parts of Scotland.
"Yesterday in western Scotland it was quite warm - it was 24.5 - so over the next coming days it's going to cool down compared to what they have seen but then it will climb again by Wednesday.
"By Wednesday we might see temperatures of 29-30 with a small chance of seeing a 31 in the south east.
"Into Thursday it becomes a bit less certain for the north where it might be a bit more unsettled. Across southern areas the signs are its going to be light and dry with some very warm temperatures.
"The actual temperatures are becoming uncertain but it's likely to be mid-high 20s in a few spots."
There remains a chance that come Friday the tropical paradise may collapse with a return to thunderstorms but Mr Griffiths added "that's very low confidence at the moment."
The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning in parts of Scotland for today but there are no warnings for the coming week.
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It comes days after baffled residents in Walsall, West Midlands experienced snowfall in freak thunderstorms while 200 properties were flooded overnight in Pentre, South Wales.
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And weather experts have warned up to 2.4in of rain is forecast to fall across South West England and parts of Wales today.
Brits will enjoy the longest day of the year tomorrow with temperatures of up to 21 degrees.