As parts of the UK prepare for a sweltering 29C weekend, the Met Office has warned any heat is unlikely to be long-lasting this summer.
Forecasters are predicting Mediterranean temperatures for parts of the south on Saturday, with a mini heat wave to last at least four days into the new week.
The heat, expected to be between 26 and 29C on Saturday, will be a welcome relief after days of cloud and rain.
However, the Met Office's long range report throws something of a spanner in the works, warning persistent outbreaks of rain and wind will mean warm weather will be patchy until at least mid August reports the Mirror.
"Temperatures sticking around normal with any warmer weather being short-lived," the report says of the period from July 29 to August 12.
"Through the end of July and into August many parts of UK are likely to see periods of drier and settled weather, most especially in the south," it continues.
"These settled periods, however, will be interspersed with spells of wet weather, with winds becoming stronger at times."
Weather charts show temperatures in the mid to high 20s in the south starting on Friday and lasting until at least Monday.
Forecasts suggest Kent and Suffolk could be in for the winning combination of the highest temperatures and clearest skies this weekend.
But before that, the UK can expect plenty of cloud and rain - though some warm temperatures and mugginess thanks to humidity.
BBC meteorologist Tomasz Schafernaker described the week as "cloudy, cloudy, cloudy, then Friday and Saturday turning a little bit warmer and brighter" - with sunny skies expected to remain until at least Monday.
