Overview
- The Met Office issued a rare red warning for extreme heat covering large parts of England and Wales from 9am Wednesday to 9pm Thursday, warning temperatures could approach the UK’s all‑time high of about 40.3°C.
- The UK Health Security Agency placed several regions on red heat‑health alerts because high daytime heat and warm, humid nights increase the risk of heat illness for the whole population.
- Transport operators imposed speed limits, cancelled or cut services and urged people not to travel in the red zones to reduce the risk of heat‑related track and overhead wire failures and to protect passengers.
- Hundreds of schools have closed fully or partially or are sending pupils home early, NHS trusts and emergency services issued public‑health guidance, and the Army cancelled ceremonial duties to protect personnel.
- The national grid issued an electricity margin notice and water managers released flows to protect wildlife, illustrating stress on power and water systems and highlighting experts’ warnings that such events are becoming more frequent as the climate warms.