It may feel frostier than Iceland, but Scotland could soon be basking in record temperatures.
The country was hit by a freak August freeze yesterday with lows of -1C in the Highlands.
But forecasters have said that the summer isn’t over yet, with Tayside and Fife expecting brighter and warmer conditions after the weekend.
The Met Office said Scotland could welcome 21C heats, which could climb further over the course of the week, possibly leading to the hottest day of the year.
The Weather Outlook said the sizzle is due to “insane” heat of the incoming Spanish plume of hot air.
Ladbrokes has slashed odds on highs hitting 31C in Scotland to 7/2 with one spokesman stating: “Scotland is set to fry and bookies are feeling hot under the collar.”
Met Office forecaster Alex Burkill said: “A north-westerly flow means chilly nights at the moment and not many people would expect frost in August.
“But temperatures start to climb from Friday, with some weekend brightness and sunny spells following.
“Warm weather is likely to spread north and Scotland will feel hot, with the high 20s possible with the best of the heat on Tuesday.”
He said: “Wednesday could still be warm or cooler, as it is uncertain which day fresher conditions will arrive.”
The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze added: “Scotland will share the warmth. The warm southerly flow will be a big contrast to the week’s chilly airstream.”
Arctic air was blamed for a dramatic drop in temperatures across Scotland, which saw the country colder than 11C lows in Reykjavik in Iceland.
Scotland’s highs are poised to pip July 19’s 29.8C – recorded in Lanarkshire and in the Borders – thought to be the hottest temperature of the year and warmer than Ibiza.
However, it’s not the first time record-breaking heats have been forecast this year.
Meteorologists had originally claimed Scotland could score its hottest weekend of the year in early July, just in time for T in the Park. However, the sizzling temperatures never materialised.