Pollen levels are set to soar across Scotland this weekend sparking misery for hay fever sufferers.
Scots will enjoy the sunniest week of the year so far, which also creates the perfect conditions for a so-called ' pollen bomb ' to thrive.
The Met Office predicts parts of the country will see high pollen by the end of the week as temperatures are expected to hit 17C - 5C above average.
The west of Scotland, including Glasgow, will see a high tree pollen count - which affects 90 per cent of allergy sufferers - over on Friday and Saturday.
Come the weekend, the remainder of country will see medium levels of pollen - particularly from birch and ash trees - with the exception of the Orkney and Shetland Islands.
It comes as people across Scotland gear up to spend more time in the sunshine as beer gardens are set to reopen on Monday, April 26.
Outdoor pub seating and gardens will be packed as of next week now that groups of six can go for alcoholic drinks together.
Punters can bask in temperatures of up to 21C in Scotland forecast for the end of April and into May, amid a 500 mile-wide continental heat plume.
Hay fever - seasonal allergic rhinitis - is an allergy caused by pollen grains released during the pollen season which normally runs from March to November in the UK.
It's expected to affect around 18 million people in the UK and a Met Office poll of 2,000 last year revealed 41 per cent suffer so badly it ruins their whole summer.
Pollen is also a top trigger for asthma attacks with an estimated 3.3million could be affected in the UK.
Common hay fever symptoms include sneezing, runny or blocked nose, itchy eyes, mouth and throat, with less common signs being headaches and hives.
It can also cause a loss of smell, which has become recognised as a key symptom of the coronavirus.
Experts have previously warned people not to confuse the symptoms of hay fever with Covid-19.
