Tropical weather will hit the UK over the next few days with “storky” conditions bringing a mix of 29°C (84.2°F) heat and rain from Monday.
Forecasters say heavy downpours from the Atlantic will affect parts of the country over the weekend, while southern and eastern areas will be warm and humid.
Storms may rumble through before temperatures reach the low 20s starting Monday.
Met Office forecaster Tom Morgan said “the main theme over the next few days will be wet weather, in stark contrast to the rest of July.
“Many areas will be very warm and humid with lots of cloud around, even overnight, with temperatures up to 20C in the early hours, meaning there are some uncomfortable evenings to sleep in.”
He added that it will be “pretty crazy and wet, typical of the conditions you see in tropical countries.”
“Temperatures could rise to 29C during the day in southern areas, but it will feel uncomfortable and wet.”
He said “moist” air will move in from the southwest into the Atlantic, where sea temperatures are above average.
Read more: Hose ban imposed in Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildfires have broken out again around London, parched by the heatwave. Climate change increased the likelihood of the UK heatwave.
Mr Morgan said 30mm to 40mm of rain could fall on Monday and Tuesday in northern, central and western areas.
But he added that the rain will not be “too disruptive” and “useful for farmers and gardeners”.
Morgan went on to say it will be a “week of two halves”, with cooler and drier weather starting Wednesday.
He added: “The rain is clearing and a less cluttered picture will start to emerge, with calmer conditions and temperatures in the low 20s.”
The sweltering conditions follow an intense heatwave seen in recent weeks with temperatures exceeding 40C (104F) in parts of the UK.