Weather Services International, part of the Weather Channel, said the ‘pressure blocking’ system which made recent summers cool and wet has disappeared.

Instead, forecasters expect hot and dry high pressure systems, comparable with patterns which delivered the 2003 and 2006 scorchers.

WSI chief meteorologist Dr Todd Crawford said: “The last four summers have been fairly wet and cool across the UK.

“This was driven by extreme levels of North Atlantic pressure blocking as seen in summers 2007-11 – but that pattern has now seemingly ended.

“Reduced levels of blocking should result in a distinctly different summer this year – with high pressure driving warmer, drier and less windy conditions.

“We expect a summer pattern more like 2002-06, with above-normal temperatures.

Forecasters predict barbecue summer to rival 2003 as temperatures rocket to 27C tomorrow – Telegraph