Temperatures are expected to climb to 26C in parts of Scotland this week as a heatwave spreading over parts of Europe makes itself felt in Britain.

Rain and thunderstorms finally made way for warm weather on Wednesday - as the mercury rose to a sweltering 23C - with the trend set to continue in the run-up to the weekend, according to the Met Office.

Hot air will move in from continental Europe, bringing with it drier, sunnier and warmer conditions, as well as high levels of UV and pollen.

READ MORE: Scotland's weather: Nation set for a scorcher

Glasgow and its surrounding areas will see the mercury soar to 25C on Thursday and Friday, while Edinburgh will see highs of 23C.

But how long will the warm spell last in Scotland?

According to forecasters, the warm temperatures and wall-to-wall sunshine will not last long, with cloud and light showers set to move into western parts of Scotland by Saturday evening.

The Herald:

Over in the east, it will remain dry and mild, with clouds changing to sunny intervals by lunchtime. Temperatures will reach a high of 23C in Edinburgh, 22C in Glasgow and 19C in Aberdeen.

READ MORE: Climate Emergency: Europe on alert as heatwave hits

It will be all change on Sunday, with light showers expected across much of the nation. It will also be cooler than previous days, with a high of 18C in Edinburgh and 17C in Glasgow.

As we move into next week, it will be cooler and breezy at times with scattered showers and sunny spells, but we could see temperatures rise again towards the weekend.