Britain is set to surpass a 50-year heat record with scientists warning that heatwaves will become more severe. Schools nationwide are closing early as temperatures are expected to exceed the 35.6C June record from 1976. London and the South East could reach highs of 36C on Wednesday, possibly soaring to 39C in some areas by Thursday’s end.
Transport authorities advise against non-essential travel, and numerous schools in England and Wales are closing or ending classes early this week to safeguard students from overheating in classrooms. Pupils have been permitted to wear PE kit instead of full school uniforms.
One affected school, Buckingham School in Buckinghamshire, will be shut on Wednesday and Thursday, with students engaging in online learning. The school stated, “Due to inadequate cooling in most of our buildings and limited outdoor shade, we have made the tough choice to close for both days, canceling all trips and scheduled activities.”
This heatwave coincides with the 50th anniversary of a historic heatwave when water shortages, failed harvests, food price hikes, and sun-blocking measures like foil on windows were commonplace.
Met Office’s chief scientist, Professor Stephen Belcher, highlighted the increasing frequency and intensity of UK heatwaves. The ongoing extreme heat warning, coinciding with the 1976 heatwave anniversary, underscores the concerning trend. The prolonged extreme heat, coupled with high humidity, poses significant challenges to communities and individual health.
A red weather alert for extreme heat, covering regions from London to Swansea and Somerset to Birmingham, is in effect from Wednesday morning to Thursday evening. Network Rail’s deputy chief executive, Jake Kelly, emphasized safety first due to the heat’s potential impact on railways, urging passengers to travel only if absolutely necessary within the red warning zone.
Chiltern Railways, operating between London and Birmingham, has already axed over half of its usual train services. A ‘heat-health’ Red Alert has been issued for six regions by the UK Health Security Agency, with warnings that forecasted temperatures pose life-threatening risks, even to healthy individuals.
Health authorities advise NHS and social care services to prepare for the looming heatwave, which is projected to surpass the 1976 Hampshire record and could approach the UK’s all-time high of 40.3C. Professor Hayley Fowler from Newcastle University emphasized the need for urgent reductions in fossil fuel emissions and adaptation of infrastructure to cope with future heatwaves.
Professor Ed Hawkins from the University of Reading pointed out that the 1976 heatwave, occurring in a much cooler era, would be significantly hotter in today’s warmer climate. Future projections indicate that individuals born in 1976 could face 45C heat in their retirement, while those born in 2026 may encounter such extreme temperatures in their 30s.