BBC Breakfast presenter Jon Kay left co-host Sally Nugent alone in the studio on Wednesday as he delivered a serious warning about a rare red extreme heat alert. Kay presented the show from Richmond Upon Thames, where he highlighted the 'risk to life' posed by soaring temperatures.
Addressing viewers, Kay said: 'Today we are here to cover a really serious story. Parts of England and Wales are preparing for an extreme red heat alert, which has been issued by the Met Office.' He explained that the alert, only the second of its kind, would affect southern England, the Midlands, and south-east Wales from 9am.
Kay noted that temperatures in Richmond had already reached 22-23 Celsius, with potential highs of 38 Celsius in some areas. He emphasised the humidity, saying: 'It feels really humid and sticky.' The warning prompted hundreds of schools to close fully or partially, and rail passengers were advised to avoid non-essential travel.
Network Rail planned to run fewer trains to reduce stress on infrastructure and minimise disruption. The red alert is expected to last through Thursday, with millions of people urged to take precautions.
