The Met Office said “an exceptional spell of hot and humid weather is expected” across England Wales, “with impacts to the general population highly likely”
Rare red heat health alerts have been issued for six regions of England as temperatures are expected to reach up to 40C this week.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) alerts will run in the West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, South West, London, and East of England from 1am on Wednesday June 24 until 11pm on Thursday June 25.
It is only the second red heat health alert to be issued, after the first in July 2022 when temperatures soared above 40C.
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It follows a Met Office red warning – the highest level of alert issued by the forecaster – meaning there is a risk to life for everyone in the heat, not just those considered vulnerable.
It begins on Wednesday at 9am and ends Thursday 9pm, and covers Birmingham, Salisbury, Swansea and London.
Population-wide “adverse health effects” will be experienced and substantial changes to working practices and daily routines will be required, forecasters said.
“It is vitally important that people understand the risk posed by high temperatures like these, and take steps to keep themselves and their friends, families and neighbours safe,” said Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA.
“A red heat health alert indicates a risk to life for even the healthy population, but simple actions like staying hydrated, avoiding the sun during the hottest part of the day, and keeping your home cool can make a big difference.
“It’s also important to look out for others, especially elderly relatives, neighbours, and those with underlying health conditions, to make sure they are aware of the forecast and following the necessary advice.”
The Met Office has warned there is likely to be significant disruption to travel due to the heat, and energy supplies, such as water, electricity, gas or mobile phone services, could also be impacted.
How to stay safe in extreme heat
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Keep out of the sun and avoid any exercise between 11am to 3pm when the sun is the strongest
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Close curtains in rooms that face the sun
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Drink plenty of fluids and take water with you when travelling
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Dress light and choose light fabrics in light colours
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Check the temperature of seas and rivers before entering – less than 15C can cause cold water shock
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Wear a wetsuit if spending a length of time in the water
People are strongly recommended to keep out of the sun, drink plenty of fluids and avoid exercising between 11am and 3pm when the sun is the strongest.
The Met Office has also warned people to take care when heading to coastal areas, lakes and rivers after multiple people died in water-related incidents during the last heatwave at the start of the month.
Forecasters had already warned that temperatures are expected to hit 35C in London and 34C in Coventry on Tuesday, with most of southern England predicted to be above 30C.
The amber warning lasts from Monday to Thursday evening, and covers most of southern England and Wales.
The area reaches up to Lincoln and Stoke-on-Trent in the north for the first two days, and Preston, Leeds, Liverpool and Bangor on Wednesday and Thursday.
“The forecast heatwave is developing into an impactful severe weather event, with record-breaking June temperatures and very high humidity,” said the Met Office’s deputy chief forecaster Tom Crabtree.
“The combination of heat and humidity will be oppressive and bring impacts across society from public health and infrastructure, to power and water supplies.
“As well as very high daytime temperatures, there will be consecutive nights where temperatures do not drop below 20C, 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.”
Like UKHSA, the Met Office issued its first ever red warning for heat in July 2022.
The Royal National Lifeboat Association (RNLA) has urged people to remember that bodies of water will still cold despite the high temperatures.
“Entering it unexpectedly can lead to cold water shock, causing a sudden increase in breathing and heart rate, which may trigger panic,” said Samantha Hughes, the RNLA’s national water safety partner.
“If you find yourself struggling in the water, remember to Float to Live: tilt your head back so your ears are submerged, relax and control your breathing.
“You may need to gently use your hands to help you stay afloat, and it’s ok if your legs sink—everyone floats differently.”
The British Horseracing Authority has cancelled four fixtures on Wednesday due to the heatwave.
Some schools have announced early closures while others have asked parents to pick up their children before the end of the normal day, where possible, in an effort to protect pupils amid extreme heat this week.
Some schools in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and London have said they will close early to prioritise the safety and well-being of students and staff.
Other schools in Leicestershire and Wigan have said students can come to school without blazers or ties, while a Primary School in West Berkshire said children can attend in their PE kit.
School leaders’ union NAHT has sent its members guidance on dealing with the heat.
General secretary Paul Whiteman said: “As temperatures continue to rise, school leaders will be thinking carefully about how to keep pupils and staff safe and as comfortable as possible.
“While there is no legal ‘upper limit’ for temperature in schools, they will certainly be doing all they can to mitigate the effects of such high temperatures.”
Teachers’ union NASUWT have called for a legally enforceable maximum classroom temperature to be introduced.
The AA said drivers could see gritters out on some roads this week with the potential for surfaces to soften or become sticky under the heat, with heavy traffic even causing them to rut in some places.
Rod Dennis, road safety spokesperson at RAC, urged drivers to take warnings seriously as there could be a record number of breakdowns this week.
Drivers whose vehicles don’t have effective air conditioning should strongly consider postponing any non-essential car journeys, he said.
The heatwave in the UK is also being felt in Europe due to a ‘heat dome‘, which occurs when high pressure remains stuck over a large area, trapping hot air beneath it.
More than half of France has been placed under a red heat alert, with temperatures of up to 43C expected in parts of the country and many schools deciding to close on Monday.
Medical specialists have warned of the potentially deadly cocktail of drinking alcohol in extreme heat and authorities are cracking down on alcohol consumption in public.
Italy has also issued heatwave warnings in eight cities, while Spain’s Basque Country, in the north, cancelled multiple sports and cultural events.
The World Health Organisation said over 200,000 people in Europe have died from heat-related causes in the past four years.
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