The Met Office has issued a rare red warning for extreme heat, warning of a 'population-wide danger to life' as temperatures are expected to hit 40C in parts of England and Wales. The warning, in place from 9am on Wednesday until 9pm on Thursday, covers central, southern and south-east England, and parts of south Wales. Temperatures could approach the UK's highest ever recorded temperature of 40.3C, set in July 2022. 'The Met Office is flagging 39C as a headline maximum temperature on Thursday, most likely for somewhere in London or the South East,' said Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge. 'It is possible we could see temperatures higher than the 39C if the final values are at the upper end of our narrow range.'
With the mercury soaring, schools across the affected region have begun closing early or shutting entirely. At least 86 schools have announced closures, while others have relaxed uniform rules, allowing children to wear PE kits. Teaching unions have recommended indoor temperatures stay at a maximum of 26C, but there is no legal maximum for classrooms. The government does not normally advise closures, instead saying schools can usually be managed safely. However, head teachers may decide to close after consulting their chair of governors and employer. Some schools are setting homework for pupils to complete at home.
“Met Office red warning for extreme heat as UK faces potential record 40C temperatures, with schools closing and parents urged to use ice packs in lunchboxes.”
For parents whose children are still attending school, food safety is a major concern. 'During the warmest times of the year, food can quickly get into the temperature range that encourages bacteria to grow,' the Food Standards Agency warns. Parents are advised to put an ice pack in lunchboxes to keep food cool and prevent food poisoning. Deli meats, dairy, and mayo-based products can spoil in just two hours in hot weather.
The heatwave has already broken records. Scotland and Northern Ireland recorded their hottest days of the year so far, with 28.8C at Fyvie Castle in Aberdeenshire and 26.4C at Katesbridge, County Down. The hottest UK temperature so far was 32.6C at Wisley, Surrey. Elsewhere, France recorded its hottest day ever amid an exceptional heatwave. A woman died on a Dorset beach as the heat took hold. The 'heat-dome' over western Europe is driving the extreme conditions, with temperatures set to gradually cool into the weekend.