UK Heatwave Sets June Record as Red Alert Extended, Disrupts Transport and Schools

Britain is experiencing an unprecedented heatwave that has shattered the June temperature record, with temperatures reaching over 36°C and potentially approaching 40°C in some areas. The UK Health Security Agency has extended its red heat health alert through Friday evening, covering south-west, central, and southern England including areas from London to Swansea and Somerset to Birmingham. Met Office forecasters predict temperatures could reach 39°C on Thursday, with BBC weather experts expecting the UK's June record to be "absolutely smashed" by a significant margin. The combination of extreme heat and high humidity is creating dangerous conditions, with atmospheric conditions making temperatures feel close to 40°C in parts of the west.

The heatwave has severely disrupted transport across the UK. Great Western Railway cancelled the majority of its services between Bristol and London on Wednesday and Thursday due to overhead lines expanding and sagging in the heat, requiring trains to travel at dangerously slow speeds. National Rail warned of disruption to Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink services until Friday. Avanti West Coast reduced services between Tuesday and Thursday, while Chiltern Railways axed more than half its services through Friday. Eurostar cancelled four trains between London and Paris on Wednesday and Thursday. Transport authorities urged passengers to avoid travelling and prepare for significant disruption.

Schools have been forced to close across the country due to unsafe conditions. Nearly 100 schools in Somerset, approximately 100 in Buckinghamshire, and 86 in Gloucestershire shut on Wednesday and Thursday, with some remaining open implementing extraordinary cooling measures such as children placing their feet in water-filled drawers. Other major events and activities have been cancelled: the British Army suspended live firing exercises on Salisbury Plain, ceremonial operations in London and Windsor were cancelled to protect soldiers and horses, and horse racing meetings were abandoned. London Mayor Sadiq Khan triggered a "high" air pollution alert for the capital, the third this year.

The extreme weather has extended beyond the UK. France experienced its hottest day ever recorded on Tuesday with an average temperature of 29.8°C, and approximately 68,000 households lost electricity in western France on Wednesday due to a transformer failure related to extreme temperatures. Spain's national weather service reported that temperatures would drop in most of the country by Wednesday afternoon, with no areas rated red or orange by Thursday. Across Europe, approximately 94 million people are experiencing temperatures above 35°C.

Health officials have stressed the seriousness of the conditions. Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, urged health and social care services to prepare for significant health impacts. The Met Office Chief Forecaster Matthew Lehnert noted that red warnings are reserved for the most severe events, with health issues likely even beyond those typically vulnerable to heat. Mental health services have also issued guidance, noting that certain conditions and medications could affect how bodies manage heat and recognise warning signs.