Temperatures could surge to the mid-30s C as a blanket of scorching air spreads across much of the country from southern Europe.
It could be the warmest few days of the summer so far with blowtorch heat forecast - especially for southern and eastern areas of the country.
The sweltering blast will see values soar as pressure builds with much of the UK hotter than The Algarve in Portugal and parts of Greece, where it will remain in the high 20s C.
The mercury will start to surge from Sunday with the heat hanging around for several days and temperatures climbing steeply.
Conditions should be dry and sunny across England and Wales. However not everywhere will enjoy the Mediterranean-like weather with some rain predicted in the north-west before becoming generally dry in most places by Tuesday.
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Dan Harris said: “As we head into next week we are expecting some parts of the country to see some very warm weather, which could reach heatwave thresholds. However, in the cloudier, windier and wetter parts of the north west temperatures will be nearer normal despite high humidity.
"There has been some speculation that the warm weather is due to a ‘continental heat dome’. This is not a meteorological term that is recognised professionally and the origin of the term is unclear.
"As can often happen at this time of year, a high-pressure system will develop over the near continent, bringing warm continental air into the south and east of the UK."
But advice is to enjoy it while it lasts because more rain is set to arrive by the end of next week with more unsettled conditions forecast with much cooler weather possible by the end of the month.
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