Brits can look forward to a sizzling end-of-summer heatwave before the end of August, according to weather forecasters on the continent.
Meteorologists in Portugal say a scorcher is being driven up from Africa in a plume of hot air and will spread across Europe, hitting the hottest spots of England by August 30.
For the same date, the Met Office has predicted 'hotter than normal' temperatures.
The British weather agency have downplayed the prospect of a heatwave, saying 'there is little signal' of the pocket of heat making the mercury rise in Britain.
The UK usually relies on the BBC or the Met Office for its predictions. The national weather agency says the likelihood of a heatwave remains 'low' before September.
Forecasters at The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) have predicted the plume will drive temperatures up to 30C in some parts of the UK.
They say the heat will skyrocket in just over a fortnight on the 30 August, as Brits enjoy their summer bank holiday.
The Met Office say they have not announced a heatwave in line with their European counterpart as the prediction period is still a number of weeks away.
If the plume does arrive on UK shores, the Met Office is likely to announced safety measures about the dangers of extreme heat and the importance of drinking plenty of water.
In July, during the hottest day of the year so far, soaring temperatures led to 30 water-related deaths in just a week.
Before the sun makes an appearance, Brits face four more days of heavy rain and thunderstorms, threatening to cause chaos across the country.
Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge told the Mirror that hot weather or even a heatwave cannot be ruled out, but the long-term forecast isn't a certainty.
In a separate statement, the agency said: “Through the remainder of this period, it will likely turn more settled, though a few showers cannot be ruled out, especially in south eastern areas.
"This will bring drier weather, with sunny spells for most through to mid-August, and temperatures trending closer to, perhaps above average.”
Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey added that temperatures could even drop below normal for August.
She said: “"The Met Office is predicting unsettled weather through to the middle of August with a mixture of showers, some of which could be heavy with thunder and lightning, and some sunshine.
The Met Office also stated that "changeable conditions" are the most likely outlook for the end of the month. Temperatures will be 'above average' with a 'potential for hotter weather' towards the end of August.
"Settled weather" is most likely to be seen in the north and north-east of the UK.
The Met Office also warned Brits of severe weather this week of the wetter kind. They predict as much as 80-100mm (3-4ins) or rain tomorrow, with another 3ins due for Saturday across the whole of the UK.
They added there is also a possibility that homes and businesses could be flooded "quickly" within the areas of concern.
The Portuguese forecast was initially announced in the Correio da Manha newspaper.
It said a wave of 'torrid heat' would engulf Europe within the month and could reach as far north as Norway.
Forecasters say temperatures could reach as high as 40C in the Portuguese region of the Algarve, a popular British holiday spot, by next week.
