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Met Office issues red heat warning for parts of England and Wales
A rare red weather warning for extreme heat covers London, the Midlands, south-east Wales and southern England from Wednesday morning through Thursday evening. Forecasters expect temperatures up to 40C during the peak period.
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The Met Office has issued a red weather warning for extreme heat affecting London, parts of the Midlands, south-east Wales and southern England. The alert runs from 09:00 BST on Wednesday to 21:00 BST on Thursday. Forecasters said temperatures could reach 40C, close to the national record of 40.3C set in Coningsby in July 2022.
High humidity is expected to intensify conditions, and officials warned of significant disruption to travel and daily activities.
Health and school measures The UK Health Security Agency issued its second-ever red heat-health warning for the West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, South West, London and East of England. The alert begins at 01:00 BST on Wednesday and ends at 23:00 BST on Thursday.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, said it is vitally important that people understand the risk and take steps to keep themselves and others safe. Some schools have announced plans to close early or relax uniform rules on Wednesday and Thursday.
Travel and infrastructure National Rail advised passengers to travel only if absolutely necessary on Wednesday and Thursday. Transport for London said some Tube, London Overground and Elizabeth line services may face disruption. The AA said gritters will be deployed on some roads to treat surfaces that could soften.
Edmund King, AA president, advised drivers to slow down and avoid harsh braking or steering on damaged sections. Rod Dennis, road safety spokesperson at RAC, recommended avoiding non-essential journeys in red-warning areas if vehicles lack effective air conditioning.
Water and fire safety South East Water and Anglian Water asked customers to limit use to essential purposes. The National Fire Chiefs Council urged caution around open water and outdoor spaces after recent heat-related incidents.
