"Britain is set to sizzle in a two week-long heatwave predicted to start this Saturday - which will make this May the hottest for 350 years.
After a few showers this week, the heatwave will kick in, sparking fears of a major drought across the country.
The dry spring could also see a summer hosepipe ban, food price rises and devastating forest fires sweeping the country.
Weathermen said the average temperature in central England so far this month was 13C (55F) – five degrees warmer than average and ranking it in the top 6% of hottest Mays since records began in 1659.
April had just 24% of the average rainfall for the month, making it the driest April for 80 years, while several areas of the country experienced the driest March for almost half a century.
Forecasters said the warm weather was another 'astonishing' aspect of a balmy 2011, which has seen significantly warmer-than-average temperatures in February and March, and a record-breaking April – the hottest ever recorded.
Then temperatures are expected to rocket from Saturday and stick around for at least two weeks.
Jonathan Powell, senior forecaster at Positive Weather Solutions, told the Express: 'This is an astonishing year so far and may well continue to turn up more surprises. May is outperforming expectations, as did March and April.
'There will be some rain during the rest of May in the North and West, but not nearly enough to stave off drought concerns. We expect high pressure to build again during late May and through to the second week of June.
'There will be high temperatures and possible humidity, leading to thunderstorms.'
