It could be hot enough to melt roads today as temperatures look to soar as high as 30°C. Europe’s 1,500-mile wide 45°C heatwave hotspot, the strongest since records began, will see “hairdryer” hot air cover most of Scotland.
On the continent, France is set to break its 44.1°C temperature record.
The Met Office said Scotland is forecast for up to 30°C today in the Highlands – hotter than the town of Hell, Michigan, in the US, which is due for 29°C, and as hot as Honolulu in Hawaii.
Central belt temperatures will hit 27°C.
It will be Scotland’s hottest temperatures since last year’s heatwave peaked exactly 12 months ago at 31.9°C on June 28.
- READ MORE: How long will the heatwave last?
Roads are set to melt in Scotland, with the AA saying: “Roads start to soften around 27°C. This can lead to asphalt warping.”
The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: “It looks like ‘Frazzled Friday’ for many.”
Ex-BBC and Met Office forecaster John Hammond of weathertrending said: “Strong, warm winds are forecast. Hairdryer.”
Met Office forecaster Bonnie Diamond said: “Friday has 30°C possible in Scotland’s Highlands.
Heat from Africa could challenge all-time records across Europe, including France’s 44.1°C temperature record, with the mid-40s possible in France and Spain.
“England has a 30 per cent chance of temperatures higher than the 35.6°C June record on Saturday.
Highs will be widely over 30°C in the south-east.”
The Met Office said there is a 30% chance of England’s south-east breaking June’s 35.6°C UK record, set on June 29, 1957, in London and June 28, 1976, in Southampton. UK-wide Met Office records began in 1910.
The European heatwave’s high-altitude air pressure – a measure of a heatwave’s strength – is the highest since records began in 1943 in Switzerland, European weathermen said.
The conditions have led to Spain’s biggest wildfire in 20 years as troops and emergency services battled the blaze in Catalonia.
Meanwhile, Glasgow Airport is gearing up for its busiest weekend of the year.
More than 165,000 passengers are expected to travel through the airport this weekend as staff anticipate more than a million Scottish holidaymakers will depart over the next six weeks of school summer holidays.
Whilst the majority of travellers will be heading for popular sunshine hotspots such as Portugal, Alicante, Crete, Turkey and Florida, among others, the city break is becoming a popular second choice with many travellers escaping to New York, Paris, Prague, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Rome and Venice.
- READ MORE: Nation set for a scorcher
Amid the unpredictability of the Scottish weather, holidaymakers are leaving on what the Met Office has recorded as the hottest weekend of the year so far.
Temperatures in Glasgow hit a high of 26.5°C yesterday and is expected to hit a high of 29°C today before cooling down over the weekend.
The Met Office are urging people to stay hydrated and be extra careful when taking part in outdoor activities such as hiking or hill walking.
Despite the proposed industrial strike action planned by some Unite members for today and tomorrow, additional airport staff will be on hand at peak times over the weekend in the check-in and security areas.
The airport will also be providing plenty of entertainment for young departing travellers to ensure their holiday gets off to a fun start.
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