Scotland will embrace a continental climate this week with temperatures set to rise as high as 24C – putting European hotspots in the shade.
Fort William is expected to be warmer than Paris on Monday and Glasgow sunnier than Alicante in southern Spain as the clear skies that have marked much of May continue.
The good news comes as Scots flocked to beaches and parks to soak up the rays.
The Met Office said a period of high pressure will see Scotland bask in ‘dry, warm and sunny weather’ this week.
BBC weather presenter Judith Ralston is predicting warm conditions and yet more good spells of sunshine.
She said: ‘Everybody is asking me how long this dry, settled, warm and sunny weather is going to last.
‘Well, it looks like lasting through next week and through next weekend.’
An area of high pressure to the north of Scotland will be replaced by another, settling down nicely to provide us with a week of balmy conditions.
Members of the public enjoying the sun in Glasgow’s Botanic Gardens on Saturday
People on Conic Hill, overlooking Loch Lomond, as Scotland enjoys more warm weather
Performers enjoyed the sunshine as they took part in Edinburgh’s Tartan Parade
Ms Ralston added: ‘So, no sign of it ending any time soon.’
The Met Office said Scotland will see temperatures reach 23C today (Sun), 24C tomorrow and Tuesday before dipping slightly to 23C on Wednesday and 22C on Thursday.
The forecast will turn the tables on the kind of destination Scots begin to seek out at this time of year for warmer weather.
Most of Scotland will be better than Athens, the Greek capital, plagued by showers for much of next week.
The Eternal City of Rome is looking pretty damp, too, and tourists will need a brolly – rather than a parasol – on the Costa Blanca’s popular resorts near Alicante on Wednesday and Thursday.
As for the Catalan capital Barcelona, best take a woolly for chilly nights as the mercury won’t get above 20C (68F) during the day on Tuesday and Wednesday.
On Saturday, thousands left the cities to enjoy the sunshine in Scotland’s beauty spots.
However, the dry weather has raised the risk of fires breaking out amid the tinderbox conditions with a fire breaking out near Bathgate, West Lothain.
Visitors to the Cairngorms National Park, near Aviemore, were also warned not to light barbecues after an ‘extreme’ warning for wildfires was extended across mainland Scotland.
Forestry and Land Scotland has also been issuing warnings for anyone electing to enter the water on its land, including at Ardentinny, on Loch Long, Cowal’s longest sandy beach.
Entering cold water suddenly can cause blood vessels to close, which causes your heart to work harder and make your blood pressure increase.
It can also cause an involuntary gasp of breath and a rise in your breathing rate, which can cause panic and an increased chance of inhaling water.
Forestry and Land Scotland advice states: ‘Scotland has some of the most incredible waters in the world.
‘But open water carries risks too. No matter what activity you enjoy, or your experience, make sure you know what you’re doing before dipping your toe in.
‘If you go in the water, it’s essential that you are fully prepared.’
Helicopter drops water on wildfire
Fire crews have tackled a 40,000 square metre wildfire in Scotland.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said nine appliances attended the blaze in a wooded area nearBathgate, West Lothian.
The service said it received the first call at 11.43pm on Saturday to the fire, which is equivalent to around five-and-a-half football pitches in size.
A total of eight appliances are in attendance at the almost 10-acre blaze.
Images from the scene showed a helicopter dumping huge volumes of water on the smouldering woodland below.
An SFRS spokesperson said: ‘It’s a large area of trees alight, it’s 200 metres by 200 metres.’
The service has been warning Scots that recent dry, warm weather has increased the chance of fires breaking out.
And it has asked people to be very careful with naked flames in the countryside.
A helicopter tackles a wildfire near a wooded area in West Lothian on Saturday
Huge plumes of smoke swirled into the sky as the helicopter tried to douse the flames
Huge volumes of water could be seen crashing down onto the wildfire below
A large number of emergency vehicles attended the wildfire
Meanwhile, the latest Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) report shows that a lack of rain is causing water levels to fall in many rivers across the country.
Water scarcity is sweeping across Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders, up through the Firth of Forth and Firth of Tay and reaching all parts of Aberdeenshire.
Sepa said rivers around the Black Isle and Thurso were also affected.
The wildfire warning runs until Monday.
