Hay fever sufferers have been warned the recent cold snap followed by mild winter temperatures could spark a "pollen bomb".
Scotland is set to switch from minus numbers to 10C this week, causing trees to release clouds of allergens into the air due to the change in weather.
Experts are urging hay fever sufferers "adequately prepare" for the scenario, which comes just days after temperatures plunged to as low as -23C in Aberdeenshire in the coldest night in 25 years.
It comes as The Met Office predicts 'exceptionally' mild temperatures by Saturday across Scotland, with a difference of 20 degrees since last week.
Airborne allergens experts Max Wiseberg told the Telegraph: "If we get weather that’s warmer than normal for the time of year this could create a mini pollen bomb with flurries of alder, hazel, elm and willow pollen exploding into the air.
"This would make a very early start to the hay fever season, so sufferers should ensure they’re adequately prepared."
Forecasters predict that Scotland could see highs of 10C by the end of the week, which is double the average temperature for February.
Parts of England could reached up to 17C due to warm air from North Africa and Spain.
It comes after the nation has been battered by snow, ice and freezing temperatures from Storm Darcy over the last week, which has been dubbed 'The Beast from the East 2'.
Chris Fawkes from BBC Weather said today: "We’re starting to draw up more of a southerly flow of wind and that will start to drag up some of the warmer air from North Africa and Spain which will push across westerly Europe and in across parts of the United Kingdom.
"Saturday and Sunday, particularly Sunday, parts of eastern England will see temperatures as high as 17C, way above average for the time of year, and that warmth will last into Sunday as well."
However, parts of Scotland will be battered by heavy rain as forecasters predict as much as 60mm to fall over a 15-hour period later this week.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for large parts of the country from 6am on Friday.
