A number of schools across the UK have confirmed closures from today as temperatures soar into the high 30s. The Met Office has issued a red weather warning for the heatwave as it looks likely high temperature records could be broken. Thunderstorms have also broken out in several regions today.
Official Department for Education guidance advises against closing schools and states that "schools could consider relaxing uniform rules during hot weather to make sure pupils are comfortable". The red weather warning comes into force on Wednesday and says temperatures could rise as high as 40C. The current temperature record is 40.3C in the UK, which was recorded in July 2022.
86 Schools Set for Closures
So far 86 schools have announced closures ahead of the scorching heat. Some schools across England and Wales will close or finish early to protect pupils amid the extreme heat. Schools in the South West, South East, London and Buckinghamshire are among those to announce that they won't be open. However, some schools will still be expecting children to attend lessons, just virtually.
Buckinghamshire council has announced that 42 schools will either be partially or fully closed due to the heatwave. The Buckingham School in Buckinghamshire said it will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday, and asked students to take part in online learning. In a statement on its website on Monday, the school said: "Because most of our buildings cannot be cooled adequately and there is little shade outside, we have taken the difficult decision to close the school site on both days (Wednesday and Thursday). All trips and other scheduled activities are also cancelled."
Do Not Travel Warning Issued on West Midlands Trains
Would-be train passengers in the West Midlands have been warned that they should only travel if absolutely essential over the coming days. The warning is in effect from 9am on Wednesday, June 24 until 9pm on Thursday, June 25, covering Birmingham, Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The entire West Midlands region is also subject to a red health warning issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Jake Kelly, deputy chief executive of Network Rail, said: "Extreme heat can have a significant impact on the railway, so safety must come first. We're asking passengers to check before travelling on Tuesday, and only travel if absolutely essential on Wednesday and Thursday if they are going to, from or within the red warning zone as temperatures are expected to peak."
Railway Services Running Reduced Services
London Overground will be operating a reduced frequency service on the Mildmay line (between Richmond / Clapham Junction and Stratford) with approximately 50 per cent less than normal. Avanti West Coast are planning to run fewer trains on some routes from Tuesday 23 to Thursday 25 June and there’s a risk of further disruption on the rail network. South Western Railway will run an amended timetable on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with fewer trains running and journey times likely to be longer.
Chiltern Railways has warned people to avoid travelling on its trains during the heatwave, saying "significant disruption" to services was expected until Friday. Michael Stewart, Chiltern's Commercial & Customer Strategy Director, said trains would be running at "greatly reduced levels to ensure everyone's safety".
UKHSA Issues Red Heat Health Alert
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a red health warning for six regions of England – the West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, South West, London, and east of England – from 1am on Wednesday until 11pm on Thursday. This indicates "a risk to life for even the healthy population" as well as impacts beyond health and social care, with potential effects on transport systems, food, water, energy supplies and businesses.
Northern England is also under an Amber alert. The Met Office has issued tips for public transport users, advising: "If using public transport, there are many simple things you can do to keep yourself safe; carry water with you, take a small hand-held battery powered fan, if you feel unwell get off at next stop for some fresh air, dress in light fabrics in light colours to help stay cooler, keep an eye on fellow passengers for signs they may be struggling."
Thunderstorms and Power Cuts Hit Southern England
Thunderstorms have broken out in several regions, with a yellow thunderstorm warning in place across some England regions. The Met Office warned of frequent lightning strikes and heavy rain, with conditions in place until 9pm on Monday. A house in Bristol was engulfed in flames after being hit by a lightning strike. Bristol Airport was forced to close due to "a fault with Air Traffic Control systems", with flights diverted to Gatwick, Birmingham, Luton, and Cardiff. Hundreds of homes in Shepton Mallet, Glastonbury and Bristol were briefly without power, and at least 77 homes remain without power according to the National Grid.
Transport for London (TfL) warned of possible disruption to rail and tube services, with extreme temperatures likely to lead to temporary speed restrictions and reduced services. Claire Mann, TfL’s chief operating officer, said: "Customers should be aware that, given the very high temperatures that are forecast, we are likely to see some disruption to rail and Tube services – with rail temperatures likely to lead to temporary speed restrictions and therefore reduced services in some cases."
Ambulance Trust Urges Caution
South Western Ambulance Service urged Brits to stay out of the sun and drink plenty of water when temperatures peak. The NHS trust said it was already seeing an increase in activity, having dealt with 9.5% more incidents on Sunday than usually expected for this time of year. Wayne Darch, director of operations, said: "We are receiving calls that could be managed through self-care, pharmacies, NHS 111 online or other healthcare services. Every less urgent 999 call reduces our ability to respond quickly to patients facing life-threatening situations."
The NHS confirmed the '30 minute rule' for extreme heat, advising that if someone displays symptoms of heatstroke and remains unwell after 30 minutes of resting in a cool spot, being cooled down and drinking fluids, they should dial 999.
Record Temperatures Expected
As England and Wales enter an "exceptional" heatwave period, the Met Office has stated that yet another record will be broken. Following the intense heat last month, this is the first time since 1911 – 115 years ago – that two consecutive months will have observed record temperatures.
Londoners are bracing for four tropical nights with temperatures staying as high as 31C at 11pm. A tropical night is defined as when temperatures do not drop below 20C. The Met Office forecast suggests that showers will clear, leaving a very hot and humid day across England and Wales with strong sunshine.
