A number of schools across the UK have confirmed school closures for tomorrow (Tuesday June 23) as temperatures soar. The Met Office has issued red warning for ‘extreme heat’ as it looks likely high temperature records could be broken this week.
The UK is set for its hottest June days on record as temperatures reach as high as 40C this week. Headteachers have raised concerns about the health and comfort of children in the extreme temperatures with a number of schools opting to close or shut early.
Official Department for Education guidance advises against closing schools and states that “schools could consider relaxing uniform rules during hot weather to make sure pupils are comfortable.”
The Met Office has issued a red weather warning ahead of a spell of “exceptional” hot and humid weather this week. The red alert comes into force on Wednesday warns of temperatures rising as high as 40C in some places and is scheduled to last until 9pm on Thursday. The current temperature record is 40.3C in the UK, which was recorded in July 2022.
New UpdatesView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostToday22:46 BST
Dorset Council says it is working with partners Alongside – formerly Julian House – and the Lantern Trust to help those sleeping rough during the hot weather.
The council has urged those in need, or those who know anyone in need, to raise any concerns with its Housing Team, or to make a homeless application, by calling 01305 221000.
You can also alert the outreach team at Alongside to someone sleeping rough here.
The Lantern Trust can be contacted on 01305 787940.
Zahra KhaliqToday22:18 BST
Brutal 40C temperatures have forced some schools to announce closures.
Many schools have already said they will be relaxing uniform rules for children facing stifling conditions.
A number of schools across Oxfordshire and Hampshire now say they’ll close, with headteachers citing concerns over the safety and the comfort of pupils and staff.
You can check school closures on the Gov website here.
Zahra KhaliqToday21:57 BST
Chiltern Railways has warned people to avoid travelling on its trains during the heatwave.
The railway firm said “significant disruption” to services was expected until Friday due to the extreme heat.
Chiltern’s Commercial & Customer Strategy Director Michael Stewart said trains would be running at “greatly reduced levels to ensure everyone’s safety”.
It means passengers may experience “significant delays and very busy conditions”.
Chiltern Railways has warned of significant disruption(Image: PA)
Some schools have announced plans to close early as the heatwave looms.
Hampshire County Council has offered schools “general advice” on how to keep buildings and students cool.
But it added that individual schools are responsible for making a decision on whether to close.
Zahra KhaliqToday21:16 BST
South Western Ambulance Service has urged Brits to stay out of the sun and drink plenty of water when temperatures peak on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
The NHS trust said it was already seeing an increase in activity across the region, having dealt with 9.5% more incidents on Sunday than usually expected for this time of year.
Wayne Darch, director of operations, said: “We are receiving calls that could be managed through self-care, pharmacies, NHS 111 online or other healthcare services.
“Every less urgent 999 call reduces our ability to respond quickly to patients facing life-threatening situations.”
Brits have been urged to keep safe(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
Londoners are bracing for four tropical nights with temperatures staying as high as 31C at 11pm.
A tropical night is defined as when temperatures do not drop below 20C, according to the Met Office.
Tonight marks the last night where temperatures are forecast to stay below the “tropical night” threshold. From Tuesday onwards, Londoners will see sweltering heat every night – even well after sunset.
Zahra KhaliqToday20:35 BST
A house in Bristol had been engulfed in flames after being hit by a lightning strike as thunderstorms hit the South West of the UK.
Firefighters can be seen battling the flames with a hose in video footage showing the ferocious blaze.
Laura HillToday19:35 BST
The arrivals board at Bristol Airport is showing multiple diversions. So far, it shows:
- U2226 BFS-BRS diverting to LGW – Gatwick Airport
- U22712 PMI-BRS diverting to LGW – Gatwick Airport
- U22768 NCE-BRS diverting to LGW – Gatwick Airport
- U22872 FAO-BRS diverting to BHX – Birmingham Airport
- LS1888 CHQ-BRS diverting to BHX – Birmingham Airport
- U22902 PFO-BRS diverting to LGW – Gatwick Airport
- U22936 PRG-BRS diverting to LTN – Luton Airport
- FR3386 LIG-BRS diverting to CWL – Cardiff Airport
- FR8986 TLS-CWL diverting to CWL – Cardiff Airport
Laura HillToday19:33 BST
Planes are currently grounded at Bristol airport as thundertorms hitthe UK
There is disruption at the airport as planes are currently unable to fly, according to travel monitoring service Inrix. Passengers are advised to check before they travel following the update posted at 6.53pm.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning due to last until 9pm tonight as the forecast indicates frequent lighting strikes and heavy rain in the area. Lightning has already been seen this evening over Bristol.
Laura HillToday19:13 BST
British households are being warned to familiarise themselves with the signs and symptoms of heatstroke as a life-threatening alert over extreme heat has been issued.According to the NHS, the following symptoms are a sign that you may be suffering from heatstroke:
- a very high temperature
- hot skin that’s not sweating and might look red
- fast breathing or shortness of breath
- a fast heartbeat
- confusion and restlessness
- lack of coordination
- a seizure or fit
- loss of consciousness
If you, or someone nearby, displays any of these symptoms and remains unwell after 30 minutes of resting in a cool spot, being cooled down and drinking fluids, you must seek urgent medical assistance and dial 999.
While waiting for help to arrive, the person suffering from heatstroke should be wrapped in a cool, damp sheet, fanned, or sponged down with cold water.
Laura HillToday17:56 BST
A yellow thunderstorm wanring is now in place across some England regions as the Met Office has warned of frequent lightning strikes and heavy rain.
The conditions will be in place until 9pm today, with 18 areas affected.
Read the full story and list of regions here.
Rucsandra MoldoveanuToday16:27 BST
This evening, temperatures will remain warm and stay in the 20s across most of the regions currently affected by the amber warning for extreme heat.
Some thunderstorms might develop over England and Wales, the Met Office said, which may bring frequent lightning and even hail.
Rucsandra MoldoveanuToday15:33 BST
As England and Wales enter an “exceptional” heatwave period, the Met Office has stated that yet another record will be broken.
Following the intense heat last month, this is the first time since 1911 – 115 years ago – that two consecutive months will have observed record temperatures.
Rucsandra MoldoveanuToday15:00 BST
Hot weather can increase energy demand, with the potential to causes power outages. It can also lead to disruption to train services as well as internet provision. Check what your rights are if the heat disrupts your day.
Joe SmithToday14:42 BST
A&E doctor Dr Ahmed has warned against some of the most obvious ways to cool down in the heatwave, saying they could actually put you at greater risk of heatstroke.
Jumping into water during a heatwave can be tempting, but be careful (stock image)(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Four race meetings have been called off after the Met Office issued a rare red weather warning.
Wednesday’s fixtures at Kempton, Salisbury, Worcester and Ffos Las were abandoned on Monday on welfare grounds due to the likelihood of extreme heat in parts of Britain.
Only the Flat meeting at Carlisle survives as the track is located outside the area worst affected by high temperatures.
Joe SmithToday13:34 BST
The UK Health Security Agency has put six regions under a country’s second ever red heat-health alert from 1am on Wednesday until 11pm on Thursday, with hospitals and social care facilities told to ‘be prepared’.
Brits are being warned of the heat risk to health(Image: Alamy/PA)
Temperatures are expected to peak on Wednesday and Thursday, the Met Office said.
Temperatures will start to ease slightly as the area of high pressure over the south of the UK moves east on Friday and through the weekend. The southeast will retain the exceptional warmth the longest.
Friday is likely to see at least some rain and cloud arrive from the west for a time, particularly in the northwest, and the weekend will see a gradual transition to a more westerly influence with temperatures dropping towards the high 20s on Saturday and further on Sunday, the forecaster said.
Joe SmithToday12:09 BST
The Met Office has said that in red warning areas maximum temperatures are likely to exceed 37C, perhaps rising to 38 to 40C in some places.
The heat will be accompanied by high humidity, exacerbating the potential for discomfort and health impacts, with very warm and humid night times also reducing the ability for people to recover overnight.
Significant disruption to daily life is likely and the public should take every effort to make precautions and adapt their daily routines where possible to cope with these levels of heat, which up to now have been extremely rare for the UK.
A rare red warning for extreme heat has been issued(Image: Met Office)
Hot weather is dangerous for pets because they cannot sweat like humans to cool down. As pets are unable to communicate when they are overheating or struggling with dehydration, they are at risk of suffering in extreme conditions more than most.
Vet has issued advice to pet owners to keep their furry friends safe and cool(Image: Getty)
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Mark Sidaway, said: “Red warnings are reserved for the most severe events and we’re expecting severe and significant impacts from this heatwave, with health impacts likely for many, even beyond those who are normally more vulnerable to the heat. The last time the UK recorded temperatures this high was in July 2022, but on this occasion the heat is expected to be accompanied by high humidity.
“As well as very high daytime temperatures, there will be consecutive nights where temperatures do not drop below 20°C, which is called a Tropical Night. This will make it very hard for people to recover from the daytime heat, exacerbating the heat stress impacts.”
Joe SmithToday11:35 BST
According to the Met Office, the sweltering heat could last until at least Thursday, sparking weather warnings and concerns for vulnerable people. Forecasters have said there is “growing confidence” this week could break the record for the hottest June temperature of 35.6C, which was set in 1976 in Southampton.
A visitor to the capital fans herself in front of Parliament during the latest heatwave, on 19th June 2026, in London, England. The Met Office has issued another Amber Warning for hot weather for southern England and South Wales where temperatures are forecast to reach 35 degrees Celcius. (Photo by Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images)
The Met Office has issued a health warning ahead of the red weather warning that is due to come into effect this week.
Joe SmithToday11:12 BST
Scientists warn Britain faces a humidity “heat dome” over the coming days during an unprecedented heatwave driven by climate change as daytime temperatures are expected to hit 40C this week with ‘tropical nights’ making it difficult to sleep.
Temperatures forecast on Thursday according to the Met Office(Image: Met Office)
The Met Office has issued a new red weather warning for extreme heat on Wednesday and Thursday. The warning is due to come into force over England and Wales at 9am on Wednesday and lasts until 9pm on Thursday.
The forecaster told Brits to brace for “an exceptional spell of hot and humid weather… with impacts to the general population highly likely”. There is a population-wide risk of serious illness or danger to life, the forecaster has said.
The forecaster said: “During the heatwave expected to affect a large part of England and Wales this week, the highlighted area now looks increasingly likely to see a two to three day period where maximum temperatures in the shade exceed 37C, perhaps rising to 38 to 40C in some places.”
A rare red warning for extreme heat has been issued(Image: Met Office)
Areas impacted by red weather warning
- Northamptonshire
- Bedford
- Cambridgeshire
- Central Bedfordshire
- Essex
- Hertfordshire
- Luton
- Thurrock
- Bracknell Forest
- Buckinghamshire
- East Sussex
- Greater London
- Hampshire
- Kent
- Milton Keynes
- Oxfordshire
- Reading
- Slough
- Surrey
- West Berkshire
- West Sussex
- Windsor and Maidenhead
- Wokingham
- Bath and North East Somerset
- Bristol
- Dorset
- Gloucestershire
- North Somerset
- Somerset
- South Gloucestershire
- Swindon
- Wiltshire
- Blaenau Gwent
- Bridgend
- Caerphilly
- Cardiff
- Carmarthenshire
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Monmouthshire
- Neath Port Talbot
- Newport
- Powys
- Rhondda Cynon Taf
- Swansea
- Torfaen
- Vale of Glamorgan
- Herefordshire
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands Conurbation
- Worcestershire
Joe SmithToday10:53 BST
Bin collection rules have changed in the heatwave with councils issuing new advice for householders.
People are being urged to put their bins out earlier than usual after amber heat health warnings were issued for much of the UK with the potential for record-breaking heat this week.
Joe SmithToday10:20 BST
Experts are warning of a deadly disease you catch in your own garden that could spike in the UK this week during the 38C heatwave.
The risk of Legionnaires’ disease – a potentially fatal lung infection caused by inhaling droplets of water containing Legionella bacteria – increases during hot weather, particularly in stagnant or untreated water systems.
Joe SmithToday10:07 BST
Hay fever sufferers have been warned that the pollen count is going to be very high across much of the UK this week.
Hay fever symptoms usually appear when the pollen count exceeds 50. Different people have different tolerance to different pollen types and counts, so some will be more sensitive than others.
Nine regions face very high pollen counts today.
Pollen forecast(Image: Met Office)
The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued nine heat health alerts – meaning temperatures are likely to impact on the health and wellbeing of the population.
The alerts are intended to provide early warning to the health and social care sector, the responder community, the voluntary and community sector and government departments when extreme heat puts the population at risk.
The amber alerts mean significant impacts are expected across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. There may also be impacts on younger age groups.
All of the alerts are in force until June 26, the agency has said.
The UKHSA have issued nine alerts(Image: UKHSA)
The Met Office has put out a warning to Brits about the dangers of heat exhaustion and heatstroke.