Scots have been urged to avoid alcohol and not travel unless necessary as the country braces itself for what could be the hottest day on record.
Parts of southern Scotland could hit 34 degrees on Tuesday with the Met Office issuing an amber warning for heat.
Official guidance issued by the Scottish Government last night asked the public to "stay indoors or shaded when the sun is at its hottest" and "avoid alcohol – which can leave you dehydrated".
On Monday the mercury rose to 31.3C in Aboyne in Aberdeenshire and Leuchars in Fife, the Met Office said.
The Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh recorded 30.8C and temperatures peaked at 29.9C in Aviemore.
While it is set to be cooler than the 42C the Met Office said is possible in eastern England, Scotland is forecast scorching temperatures.
Edinburgh is predicted to reach 31C, while Glasgow will see the mercury rise to around 28C.
But in Aboyne, thermometers could reach 32C, and in Coldstream, in the Scottish Borders, the mercury could soar to 34C.
Keith Brown, the Scottish Government resilience minister, said the Scottish Government is “receiving regular updates from partners including Transport Scotland, the Met Office, the NHS and emergency services and we’ll continue to closely monitor developments”.
“When temperatures increase, it’s important to monitor forecasts and follow public health advice, including staying hydrated and drinking plenty of fluids and avoiding excess alcohol,” he said.
“People should also look out for vulnerable family, friends and neighbours, as older people, those with underlying conditions and those living alone may struggle to keep cool and hydrated.”
Scottish Water has asked people to be as efficient with their water as possible, and urged them to use watering cans rather than hoses in gardens, not to fill up paddling pools and to take shorter showers.
The request came after the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency issued a water scarcity warning on Sunday.
It said in the east of Scotland, areas such as the Dee, Firth of Forth, Almond and Tyne catchment areas have been raised to moderate scarcity, which means businesses that extract water from the areas should do so only “if absolutely necessary”.
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