Brits are set to swelter in 30C weather during future summers as climate change causes a rise in heatwaves, experts say.
Analysis shows that scorching temperatures are expected to become the norm in Scotland, with a repeat of the 30C 2018 heatwave becoming increasingly likely.
Scotland sizzled in 31.9C heat during that heatwave, almost surpassing the country's record of 32.9C in 2003.
The Met Office deemed the summer of 2018 to be the joint hottest in the UK's history, with the warmest day ever being recorded last year.
Unless greenhouse gas emissions are cut substantially, researchers say it is possible every summer may be as hot as 2018 towards the end of the century, the Daily Record reports.
Experts at Edinburgh and Oxford universities concluded that future summers are likely to be hotter than those of the past after analysing Met Office climate projections.
They found that human influences had made the heatwaves more likely, indicating the need to start sustainable long-term planning now to deal with heatwaves in Scotland induced by climate change.
Lead researcher Professor Simon Tett, of the University of Edinburgh’s school of geosciences, said: “Despite its cool climate, Scotland must start to prepare now for the impact of high-temperature extremes.
“The bottom line is that heatwaves have become more likely because of human-induced climate change.”
The study, funded by ClimateXchange, was published online by IOPscience.
The UK's hottest day ever took place during a heatwave in July.
A temperature of 38.7C (101.66F) was recorded at Cambridge University Botanic Garden.
