Hundreds of schools across the UK will fully or partially close over the next few days due to extreme heat, as a 'heat-dome' settling over western Europe is forecast to bring temperatures near 40C by Wednesday. 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 approach the UK's all-time high of 40.3C, recorded in July 2022, and are expected to surpass the June record of 35.6C set in Hampshire in 1976.
School Closures Across the Country
According to Somerset Council, some 100 schools in Somerset will be closed over the next three days, with the vast majority fully closed on Wednesday and Thursday. Around 100 schools will also be at least partially closed in Buckinghamshire, along with 86 schools in Gloucestershire, based on council data. Children at some schools have been told they can wear PE kit instead of full school uniform, which often includes long trousers and blazers.
Bledlow Ridge School in Buckinghamshire explained its closure, stating that its classrooms do not have air conditioning and 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 concern about the risks of travelling to and from school in these conditions.
Met Office Warning and Humidity Concerns
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. He added that it is possible temperatures could exceed 39C if final values are at the upper end of a narrow range. Madge emphasized that the temperature value is only one element of this extreme heatwave story, with high humidity making the intense heat even harder to endure.
Overnight, temperatures did not dip below 20C at nine locations across England, recording what the Met Office classifies as a tropical night. The hot weather led to thunderstorms and lightning strikes over England during the early hours of Tuesday. The Met Office reported that Somerset had around 18,540 lightning strikes in the past 24 hours.
Transport Disruption and Emergency Services
The London Fire Brigade received 400 calls overnight, including two house fires believed to be caused by lightning strikes and flooding of homes. There was severe disruption across 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. Avanti West Coast said it planned to run fewer services than usual between Tuesday and Thursday, warning of a risk of further disruption. Chiltern Railways axed more than half its services over the three days to ensure safe operation of the railway.
Environmental Measures
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. The extreme weather continues to impact daily life across the UK, with authorities urging caution and preparedness.
