Hundreds of schools across the UK are fully or partially closing this week due to an extreme heatwave, with temperatures forecast to approach 40C. A 'heat-dome' settling over western Europe is expected to bring the mercury near 40C by Wednesday, potentially surpassing the June record of 35.6C set in Hampshire in 1976.
Red Weather Warning Issued
The Met Office has issued a red weather warning for extreme heat, covering an area from London to Swansea and Somerset to Birmingham, from 9am Wednesday to 9pm Thursday. Temperatures could also approach the UK's all-time high of 40.3C, recorded in July 2022. Met Office spokesperson Grahame Madge said 39C is expected to be the 'headline maximum temperature on Thursday, most likely for somewhere in London or the South East'.
'It is possible we could see temperatures higher than the 39C if the final values are at the upper end of our narrow range,' Madge added. 'It is important to remember that the temperature value is only one element of this extreme heatwave story. The other major factor is the high humidity which for many will make the intense heat even harder to endure.'
School Closures Across the Country
The extreme heat is causing major inconvenience for parents as schools close or shut early to protect children. According to Somerset Council, around 100 schools in Somerset will be closed over the next three days, with the vast majority fully closed on Wednesday and Thursday. In Buckinghamshire, approximately 100 schools will be at least partially closed, while 86 schools in Gloucestershire are affected, according to council data.
Some schools have relaxed uniform rules, allowing children to wear PE kit instead of full school uniform, which often includes long trousers and blazers. Bledlow Ridge School in Buckinghamshire cited a lack of air conditioning, stating that 'indoor temperatures are likely to rise significantly above outdoor levels during very hot weather.' Archway School in Gloucestershire said it could not 'safely manage the expected extreme temperatures across the site' and expressed concerns about 'the risks of travelling to and from school in these conditions.'
Overnight Heat and Thunderstorms
Overnight temperatures did not dip below 20C at nine locations across England, marking what the Met Office classifies as a tropical night. The hot weather triggered thunderstorms and lightning strikes over England early Tuesday. The Met Office reported that Somerset experienced 'around 18,540 strikes in the past 24 hours.'
The London Fire Brigade received 400 calls overnight, including two house fires believed to have been caused by lightning strikes and flooding. Severe disruption also hit London's transport network on Tuesday morning. On the Elizabeth line, heavy rain caused flooding, disrupting services between Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3 and Heathrow Terminal 4.
Transport and Environmental Impacts
Avanti West Coast announced it would run fewer services than usual between Tuesday and Thursday, warning of 'a risk of further disruption.' Chiltern Railways cut more than half its services over the three days 'to ensure the safe operation of the railway.' Meanwhile, Natural Resources Wales said it had released extra water into the River Dee to help reduce the risk of fish deaths during the high temperatures.
