Back to school . . . so it’s going to be hot!

A PLUME of hot air is set to make Scotland more scorching than Brazil – just as kids start back to school.

Thousands of children are due back in class f rom tomorrow, as a mini heat wave hits following weeks of autumnal weather.

The news was branded the ultimate irony by mums braving the dank cold in Rouken Glen park, in East Renfrewshire, yesterday.

Mum-of-one Donna MacLaren, 33, of Newton Mearns, near Glasgow, said: “It’s the first day of term on Monday so, of course, it’s time for the sun to shine on Scotland!”

The mum of little Joshua, 5, added: “It really is painfully ironic.”

Scotland will enjoy sunshine and temperatures topping 77F – hotter than Brazil – at the start of the week.

Tuesday is expected to be the sunniest day of the week, thanks to a super-heated prong of hot air making its way to the UK from Spain.

The Met Office said Tuesday’s 75F high is set to be hotter than Sao Paulo, due for 71F on the same day.

However, nice-weather-inspired sick days could cost Scotland’s economy an average of £ 12 million per working day.

Numbers of “sickies” spike in nice weather, with this week’s mini burst of blue skies likely to prove particularly alluring to sun-starved Scots.

Research has shown 70% of workers are tempted to call in sick in hot weather.

The Met Office said Scotland would miss heavy thunderstorms that look set to batter the west of England on Wednesday. Forecaster Chris Page said: “Scotland looks like 21C tomorrow, with 24C on Tuesday and 22C on Wednesday, slightly lower than first forecast as hot air still arrives from the continent, but with lighter southerly winds than originally expected.

“But Scotland looks like missing the heavy, isolated thunder y downpours, affecting the west of England and Wales in midweek.

“And the north of the UK looks more settled than the south later this week.”

New figures have revealed Scotland’s death rate rocketed to “significant excess” levels when the temperature soared last month.

July 19 was baking hot across the whole country, with a high of 29.8C (85.6F) recorded.

Reported deaths soared above average in the week ending July 22, National Records Scotland deaths data revealed.

Scotland averages around 1000 weekly deaths in summer, according to the data.

National Federation of Occupational Pensioners chief executive Malcolm Booth said: “Hot weather deaths in Scotland occur at lower temperature levels than England.”