The Met Office has issued a rare red weather warning for extreme heat across southern England and Wales, with temperatures forecast to surge as high as 40C this week, potentially breaking the UK record of 40.3C set in July 2022. In response, a number of schools have confirmed closures for Tuesday, June 23, citing safety concerns for pupils and staff amid the exceptional heat.
School Closures and Guidance
Headteachers in Oxfordshire, Hampshire, and other areas have opted to close schools or shut early, despite official Department for Education guidance advising against closures and suggesting that schools could instead relax uniform rules to keep pupils comfortable. Hampshire County Council confirmed that individual schools are responsible for making closure decisions, offering general advice on keeping buildings cool.
Red Warning Details
The red warning comes into force at 9am on Wednesday and lasts until 9pm on Thursday, covering areas including London, the Southeast, the Midlands, and Wales. The Met Office warned of "population-wide danger to life" and "significant disruption to daily life," with temperatures likely to exceed 37C and possibly reach 38-40C in some places, accompanied by high humidity and tropical nights where temperatures do not drop below 20C.
Health Alerts and Advice
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued its second ever red heat-health alert for six regions from 1am Wednesday to 11pm Thursday, alongside nine amber alerts warning of a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. The NHS urged people to recognize heatstroke symptoms, including a very high temperature, hot red skin, fast breathing, and confusion, and to call 999 if symptoms persist after 30 minutes of cooling down.
Transport Disruptions
Chiltern Railways warned passengers to avoid travel due to expected significant disruption until Friday, with trains running at greatly reduced levels. Bristol Airport experienced flight diversions and groundings due to thunderstorms, with planes unable to fly as a yellow thunderstorm warning was in place until 9pm Monday.
Broader Impacts
Four race meetings at Kempton, Salisbury, Worcester, and Ffos Las were cancelled on welfare grounds. The Met Office noted that this is the first time since 1911 that two consecutive months have observed record temperatures, following last month's heat. Temperatures are expected to ease from Friday as the area of high pressure moves east, dropping towards the high 20s by the weekend.
