Scotland is sizzling in a summer heatwave, with temperatures approaching record levels in some parts of the country.
It is already the hottest day of the year in Scotland so far with the mercury soaring to 29.4C (84.92F) in Kinloss, Moray, and 29C (84.2F) in Aviemore.
Elsewhere in the Highlands, temperatures of 28.1C (82.58F) were recorded in Drumnadrochit and 28C (82.4F) in Altnaharra.
The hottest temperature ever recorded in Scotland was 32.9C (91.22F) on August 9 2003 in Greycrook in the Scottish Borders.
Laura Young, from the Met Office, said: “I doubt we are going to beat that but certainly we will get near that.”
But as some parts of the country basked in the hot conditions, forecasters warned of possible severe weather in the south of Scotland.
The Met Office has issued a warning for potential disruption caused by isolated thunderstorms and downpours, which could include gusts of 50mph and large hail of around 1cm in diameter.
Ms Young said: “We’ve got a warning out for potential thundery downpours in southern Scotland but these will be very, very isolated and there’s lots of uncertainty about where they will actually hit.
“At the end of the day it’s still a good bright summer day with one or two showers.
“We’re likely to see maximum temperatures of 29C to 30C (86F) in Aviemore, 28C to 29C in Glasgow and 24C (75.2F) to 25C (77F) in Edinburgh.
“Tomorrow, temperatures are still likely to be in the low to mid 20s in most areas but it will be a bit fresher.
The #Heatwave will peak today with highs of 35 °C likely in the London area #hottestdayoftheyear pic.twitter.com/IH8MkCxcqT
— Met Office (@metoffice) July 1, 2015
“There will be much more in the way of cloud but generally a dry start with one or two isolated showers, but they are not going to be particularly thundery.
“It’s a good start to the Scottish school summer holidays.”
The fine weather is forecast to continue with temperatures expected to remain high on Friday, dip slightly on Saturday to the low 20s before dropping to 18-20C on Sunday.
To coincide with the hot weather, VisitScotland has launched a series of pocket guides to encourage people to get outside and explore the country.
Chairman Mike Cantlay said: “Come rain or shine, Scotland has landscapes, beaches and cities to rival anywhere in the world but warm weather is always a welcome bonus.
“This week, temperatures will be on par with those in southern Europe, which is fantastic news for our outdoor attractions, national parks and coastal communities, not to mention cafes, bars and restaurants.
“Whether it’s bagging a munro, strolling along one of our breathtaking beaches or taking a cold dip in a loch, it’s easy to get wonderfully lost in the great outdoors of Scotland.”
34.5 °C has been recorded at Northolt. This is the hottest UK temperature since 2006 #hottestdayoftheyear
— Met Office (@metoffice) July 1, 2015