UK weather - live: Heatwave set to get even hotter after warmest night on record

Britain is forecast to see its hottest day on record on Tuesday in the country’s first-ever national heat emergency.

Monday night was expected to be the warmest night ever with highs in the mid-20s in parts, while the rising sun is expected to bring temperatures up to 41C in Yorkshire and 40C in London.

The Met Office said some models even forecast highs of 43C – well above the previous record of 38.7C, recorded in 2019.

Met Office meteorologist Luke Miall said: “I’ve been a qualified meteorologist for 10 years, and telling people about 41C in the UK doesn’t seem real ... It’s been quite an eye-opener to climate change with all these temperatures in the UK.”

Dozens of schools have closed for Tuesday while others cancelled sports days, school trips and detentions, and relaxed uniform codes.

Health authorities have urged people to stay inside during the hottest period of the day, between 11am and 4pm, and wear sun cream, a hat, stay in the shade and keep hydrated with water.

Key points

• Wales records new highest temperature twice in one day

• Schools report seeing attendance drop by a third due to heat

• Heatwave could hit 43C, Met Office says

• Flights suspended at Luton as high temperatures cause runway defect

• More wildfires in 48 hours than in all of last July

• Amber and red alerts warn of ‘potential health effects or danger to life’

• Police warn against open water swimming after teen’s death

All Tory leadership candidates confirm commitment to net zero

23:00 , Liam James

All five of the remaining Conservative leadership contenders have committed to meeting net zero by 2050 (Christopher McKeon writes).

At a well-attended hustings organised by the Conservative Environment Network (CEN) and chaired by Cop26 President Alok Sharma, the candidates confirmed their commitment to the UK’s net zero target.

Prior to the hustings, all the candidates except Kemi Badenoch had signed the CEN’s pledge to maintain the 2050 target.

As recently as July 12, the former equalities minister had described net zero policies as “unilateral economic disarmament”, while she has previously called the 2050 target “arbitrary”.

But as Britain saw its hottest day of the year on Monday and temperatures approached 40C, Ms Badenoch joined her fellow candidates in committing to the 2050 target.

All Tory leadership candidates confirm commitment to net zero

Ireland records hottest temperature in more than a century

22:15 , Liam James

Ireland has recorded its hottest temperature in more than a century as parts of Dublin reached 33C, according to Met Eireann.

A status yellow high temperature warning remains in place across the country as it faces another day of high heat.

Data from Met Eireann shows that temperatures soared to 33C at Phoenix Park in the capital on Monday, making it provisionally the hottest day ever recorded in July.

It also breaks the high temperature record for the 21st and 20th century.

It said: “Phoenix Park has broken the highest 21st temperature record with 33C which is Ireland’s highest of 2022 so far and 12.8C above normal.

“This is only 0.3C below the all-time 135-year-old record set at Kilkenny Castle in 1887. Temperatures may still rise further.”

Hottest spots in all four UK nations

21:35 , Liam James

Monday was exceptionally hot despite failing to live up to forecast that it would see the UK temperature record broken.

Wales recorded its hottest day ever at 37.1C in Hawarden, Flintshire, beating the previous record for the country which has been in place since 1990 by almost 2C.

Northern Ireland saw its hottest day of the year so far, with 3.1C at Derrylin. Scotland hit 31.3C at Aboyne in Aberdeenshire.

While England saw 38.1C at Santon Downham, Suffolk – just 0.6C shy of the UK record.

Tuesday is expected to be hotter still and all four UK nations are forecast to see temperature records shattered, with potential for 41C in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and 40C in London.

Health secretary says 999 calls up but paramedics say they are coping

21:00 , Liam James

Emergency services are experiencing a rise in 999 calls as a heatwave sweeps Britain, according to Steve Barclay, the health secretary.

Mr Barclay said: “We’re seeing an increase in calls and the extra resource we have put in place is to manage that. But there’s also a time lag in the data because the highest point of the expected heatwave is actually going to be tomorrow afternoon.

“So that’s the point of maximum concern, but we’re seeing an increase in calls.”

Despite Mr barclay’s claim, three major ambulance services said they were operating as usual.

Brian Jordan, director of 999 operations at London Ambulance Service, urged people to only dial 999 in an emergency as he told the BBC a busy day would see 5,500 emergency calls to the service but he was anticipating up to 8,000 calls on Monday.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service said it was operating as usual with nothing out of the ordinary to report as yet.

A spokesman for North East Ambulance Service said the service remains busy “but so far today there has been no significant heat-related issues”.

Government’s net zero climate strategy ‘unlawful’ as heatwave temperatures soar

20:35 , Liam James

The government has been ordered to redraw its net zero strategy after the High Court ruled it failed to effectively outline how it would limit carbon emissions, as the country swelters in record-breaking heat (Saphora Smith writes).

Climate campaigners won a legal challenge claiming the government’s plan was in breach of climate law as it omitted vital details to show how targets to bring down the level of harmful gases being pumped into the atmosphere would be met.

“Government’s strategy for getting to net zero is inadequate and unlawful, the High Court has found, following a successful legal challenge,” the Good Law Project said on Monday.

Cases brought by Friends of the Earth, environmental law charity ClientEarth and legal campaign group the Good Law Project were heard together at the High Court of Justice in London last month.

Lawyers for the claimants argued that the policies for emissions reduction targets only added up to around 95 per cent of the carbon reductions needed to be achieved.

Government’s net zero strategy ‘unlawful’ as heatwave temperatures soar

Commuters keep away: Traffic and passenger numbers drop in extreme heat

20:03 , Liam James

Network Rail said the number of passengers using major stations across Britain on Monday was around 20 per cent down on one week ago, as people were warned to avoid public transport in the extreme heat.

Road traffic was also down, with location technology firm TomTom saying congestion at 9am was lower in most UK cities than at the same time last week.

In London, congestion levels fell from 53% on July 11 to 42% on Monday.

In Birmingham they were down from 46% to 43%, in Manchester they decreased from 45% to 37%, and in Glasgow they dropped from 17% to 12%.

Transport for London said fewer people were using the Tube and bus services, down 18 per cent and 10 per cent on last Monday respectively.

Train speed restrictions imposed by Network Rail to reduce the chances of tracks buckling in the heatwave caused delays and cancellations.

Many operators were running a heavily reduced timetable on Monday and will do so on Tuesday, including Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Great Northern and Thameslink.

Swan uppers cut corners to keep cygnets cool

19:54 , Liam James

Adjustments were made to the ancient tradition of Swan Upping – the annual census of the swan population along the River Thames – to help cygnets in the extreme heat.

The Queen’s Swan Marker, David Barber, accompanied by his team of Swan Uppers, took to the water in traditional rowing skiffs at Sunbury Lock Cut in Middlesex today as the five-day count and check got under way despite the heatwave.

Mr Barber told the PA news agency the baby swans were not taken ashore to be weighed and measured, and were checked in the boats instead and promptly returned to the river to keep them cool.

“The cygnets do have an issue of going into fishing lines because they’re not streetwise or riverwise so you have to check those over,” he said.

“Normally we would take them out of the water, ashore and weigh each cygnet and measure each cygnet for our data.

“Today we took them out of the water, checked them over, put a ring on them and then they went back in the water.”

Mr Barber, who has been the Queen’s Swan Marker for 29 years, said it was the hottest Swan Upping he had experienced, prompting him to dispense with his traditional heavy scarlet blazer, which is decorated with embroidered gold thread and royal insignia.

“The only time I put my blazer on was in Romney Lock when we gave a toast to Her Majesty the Queen. I just had to do that,” he said.

Temperature tops 30C in Scotland

19:32 , Liam James

Temperatures have soared above 30C in Scotland as the country swelters in a heatwave.

The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning of “extreme heat” in eastern, southern and central parts of Scotland which is in force until midnight on Tuesday.

On Monday afternoon the mercury rose to 30.8C in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire and Edinburgh, and reached 29.9C at Aviemore, the Met Office said.

Scotland‘s 9 August 2003 record of 32.9C at Greyrcrook in the Scottish Borders has yet to be broken but forecasters said that may happen on Tuesday.

Birmingham park burns in extreme heat

19:13 , Liam James

A large fire erupted at a park on the outskirts of Birmingham this afternoon.

Around 4,305 square feet of land was alight and more than 60 firefighters were sent to tackle the blaze.

A spokesperson for Hereford & Worcester Fire Service said: “HWFRS and West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service crews are currently fighting a fire in the open in the area of Rose Hill in Rednal in the Lickey Hills.

“People are asked to stay away from the area – residents are asked to keep their doors and windows closed.”

Centuries-old meteorological station records highest ever temperature

18:55 , Liam James

A centuries-old meterorological station in Oxford has recorded its highest ever temperature.

The Radcliffe Observatory recorded 36.5C today as temperature records were broken all around the UK.

Meteorological records commenced at the observatory in 1772, an unbroken daily air temperature record exists from November 1813, with daily rainfall records from January 1827 and sunshine records from February 1880.

The University of Oxford site is the longest continous climate record in the UK and one of the longest in the world.

The previous highest daily temperature was recorded in 2019.

Fears of ‘leaf scorch’ for Kew Gardens plants

18:35 , Liam James

Rainforest plants housed in the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew could be scorched in the extreme heat this week, one of its executives has said.

Richard Barley, director of gardens, said the Palm House was kept cooler than the outside temperature but “leaf scorch” was still a risk.

“A building like the Palm House doesn’t have structural shading or anything of that sort, so scorching is a possibility,” he said.

“If there’s no cloud cover and if the air temperature is high and there’s sunshine in mid-summer conditions, we can get leaf scorch, particularly of plants that have their foliage up close to the glass.

“Usually, the plants will withstand reasonably high temperatures, although if they got to be extreme, we’d be in uncharted territory.”

Visitors appeared to be put off by the temperatures as they soared into the high 30s, with Mr Barley suggesting most had “sensibly stayed” in the “comparative cool” of their homes.

However, the Palm House was cooler than the outside conditions thanks to its humidity, which is maintained at around 75 per cent.

More wildfires in 48 hours than in all of last July

18:19 , Liam James

In the last 48 hours England and Wales have recorded at least two dozen wildfires, double the number recorded in all of July last year (Saphora Smith writes).

Paul Hedley, the lead on wildfires for the National Fire Chiefs Council, toldThe Independent that by around 4pm on Monday fire and rescue services across England and Wales had recorded at least 24 fires since Sunday morning at 7 am.

By comparison in July last year, 11 wildfires were recorded across both countries, he added.

“Everything is just tinder dry right across the country,” he said. “It’s certainly a lot more thant we’ll be expecting to get on a daily basis.”

Mr Hedley said the uptick in fires was linked to the extreme heat engulfing the country.

More wildfires in 48 hours than in all of last July

Another grass fire sparked in London

18:03 , Liam James

Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters have been sent to tackle a grass fire in London.

Around two acres of shrubland was on fire on Woolwich Common, London Fire Brigade said.

Barely one hour earlier, a grass area the size of three football fields set alight in nearby Bexleyheath.

Watch: Wildfire breaks out in Birmingham country park following UK heatwave

18:02 , Liam James

A fire has broken out at a popular beauty spot near Birmingham just yards away from a historic golf club as heatwave temperatures top 40C.

More than 60 firefighters are battling the flames which broke out at Lickey Hills Country Park in Rednal at 1.15pm today.

Residents living nearby have been advised to close all doors and windows.

Flights suspended at Luton as high temperatures cause runway defect

17:42 , Liam James

Flights have been suspended at Luton Airport due to a runway defect caused by Monday’s high temperatures (Lucy Thackray writes).

A statement posted to the airport’s Twitter account shortly after 4.20pm reads: “Following today’s high temperatures, a surface defect was identified on the runway.

“Engineers were called immediately to site and repair works are currently in progress to resume operations as soon as possible.

“We would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused.”

At least 14 incoming passenger flights have so far been diverted – mainly to nearby Stansted. They include Ryanair flights from Athens, Zante and Las Palmas, easyJet from Catania and Tui from Skiathos.

Flights suspended at Luton as high temperatures cause runway defect

Grass fire sparked in London

17:26 , Liam James

Firefighters are tackling a fire on a field in a London suburb.

Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were sent to tackle the blaze by Halcot Avenue in Bexleyheath, London Fire Brigade (LFB) said.

An area the size of three football pitches was in flames, LFB added.

The fire service said it had attended more than 800 grass fires in the last six weeks and reminded people it is illegal to light barbecues in London parks.

Wales records highest temperature ever for second time today

17:15 , Liam James

The temperature record for Wales has been broken again, hours after the last record was set.

The Met Office reported the temperature reached 37.1C in Hawarden, Flintshire shortly before 4pm.

Just two hours before, 35.3C was recorded some 80 miles southwest in Gogerddan near Aberystwyth.

This earlier temperature was the highest since August 1990 when 35.2C was recorded at Hawarden.

Thermometer records 40C in London

17:04 , Liam James

A thermometer recorded a temperature of 40C at Oxford Circus in London at 3.45pm today.

If confirmed by the Met Office, this would be the highest temperature ever recorded in the UK by some way.

The current record of 38.7C was set in 2019 and was expected to be surpassed today, with another new record expected on Tuesday.

Cobra meets to co-ordinate ‘extensive preparation and mitigation measures’ for next 36 hours

16:30 , Chiara Giordano

Cabinet Office minister Kit Malthouse has said the NHS has all of its operational capacity and capability available in the heatwave after chairing Cobra meeting.

He said the meeting was the latest in a series to co-ordinate the “extensive preparation and mitigation measures being taken across the government to face the next 36 hours”.

Responding to an urgent question in the Commons, he said: "Temperatures are forecast to reach the low 40s centigrade, it looks probably they will break the current UK record of 38.7C recorded in Cambridge in 2019 - they currently stand at 37.5C in Suffolk."

He added: "While we hope people will take notice of the advice on how to keep safe in the high temperatures, the NHS has made sure all its operational capacity and capability are available in the heatwave."

The minister said there are now more than 2,400 call handlers for 999, an increase of around 500 since September last year.

More wildfires in 48 hours than in all of last July

16:10 , Chiara Giordano

In the last 48 hours England and Wales have recorded at least two dozen wildfires, double the number recorded in all of July last year.

Paul Hedley, the lead on wildfires for the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), toldThe Independent fire and rescue services across England and Wales have recorded at least 24 fires since Sunday morning at 7am.

Our climate correspondent Saphora Smith has this exclusive report:

More wildfires in 48 hours than in all of last July

Highs of 37C recorded in England

15:57 , Chiara Giordano

Temperatures across much of England and Wales were in the mid to high 30s by 3pm.

The highest recorded temperature so far today was 37.5C at Cavendish in Suffolk, according to the Met Office.

Kew Gardens, in London, has reached 37.4C, while both Santon Downham, in Suffolk, and Wisley, Surrey, saw temperatures of 37.2C.

Cambridge Niab and Heathrow both saw highs of 37.1C.

More record temperatures expected to be set

15:46 , Chiara Giordano

The UK record is not the only one likely to be broken during the extreme heat today and tomorrow, the Met office has said.

Wales has already set a new provisional record of 35.3C at Gogerddan today. It surpasses the 35.2C recorded at Hawarden Bridge, Flintshire, on 2 August 1990.

Scotland is also expected to see some exceptionally high temperatures that could come close to the record as well.

An infographic shared by the Met Office shows there is a 95 per cent possibility of the England record of 38.7C set in Cambridge Botanic Garden being broken.

There is also a 70 per cent chance the 32.9C recorded at Greycrook on the Scottish borders on 9 August 2003 will be surpassed.

Urgent warning over open water swimming as four people die

15:29 , Chiara Giordano

Many people have flocked to beaches and swimming pools in an effort to cool down as temperatures continue to soar today.

Cabinet minister Kit Malthouse suggested people should "just take it easy" during the heatwave, and could go to the beach to avoid the worst of the "ferocious" heat.

However people are being urged to stay away from dangerous waterways and reservoirs as a fourth person has died since the beginning of the heatwave.

A 16-year-old boy was pronounced dead after getting into difficulty in Bray Lake in Berkshire on Monday morning.

A 13-year-old boy was also found dead after getting into difficulty in a river in Northumberland, while a 16-year-old and a 50-year-old both died in Yorkshire.

Pictures show firefighters battling grass and field blazes near Chesterfield

15:05 , Chiara Giordano

Firefighters have been busy battling grass and field fires near the Derbyshire town of Chesterfield.

These dramatic pictures show the extent of the fire.

Boy, 16, pronounced dead after body found in Berkshire lake

14:38 , Chiara Giordano

A 16-year-old boy has died after getting into difficulty in Bray Lake, near Maidenhead, Berkshire.

Thames Valley Police said officers were called at 11.45am today and a body was located at just after 1.30pm, when he was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Three other people have died will swiming during the UK heatwave.

A 13-year-old boy was found dead after getting into difficult in a river in Northumberland, while a 16-year-old and a 50-year-old both died in Yorkshire.

Andy Gregory has more details:

Boy, 16, pronounced dead after body found in Berkshire lake

Wales records new temperature record

14:25 , Chiara Giordano

Wales has provisionally recorded its hottest day on record, with the temperature reaching 35.3C in Gogerddan, near Aberystwyth, according to the Met Office.

It exceeded the previous record high of 35.2C, recorded at Hawarden Bridge, Flintshire, on 2 August 1990.

UK heatwave: Hottest temperature for Wales ever recorded at 35.3C

UK must ‘heat-proof’ itself against rising temperatures

14:20 , Chiara Giordano

The UK must “up the game” in making homes, buildings and cities more resilient to future heat waves, leading scientists have said, amid warnings that thousands of people could die this summer.

Leading experts have said that this intense summer heat will only become more common in the near future, endangering lives and bringing parts of the UK to a halt. More must be done to ‘heat-proof’ the country, which is “not built for 40C,” the scientists say.

Samuel Lovett has the full story:

UK must ‘heat-proof’ itself amid warnings thousands could die this summer

Heatwave causes ‘unprecedented peak demand’ for water

14:03 , Chiara Giordano

The extreme heat has resulted in "unprecedented peak demand" for water in recent days, Water UK said.

The industry body, which has members across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, said the "most intense demand" is across the south of England but that "pretty much all companies are seeing elevated demand at the moment".

A Water UK spokesperson said: "Water companies are seeing unprecedented peak demand for water during this extreme hot weather event.

"We are urging everyone to carefully consider the amount of water they are using at this time.

"All water companies have been contacting their customers directly with information and advice to help them reduce their water usage."

Pigs at Royal Welsh Show wear sun cream as temperatures soar

13:51 , Chiara Giordano

Pigs at the Royal Welsh Show will wear sun cream this year as heatwave temperatures soar.

The UK’s biggest agricultural show is expected to attract large crowds on what may be Wales’ hottest day on record.

Furvah Shah has more details:

UK Heatwave: Pigs at Royal Welsh Show wear sun cream as temperatures soar

Boris Johnson accused of ‘clocking off’ as he misses emergency meeting on heatwave

13:23 , Andy Gregory

Labour have accused Boris Johnson of “clocking off”, after it was confirmed he will miss a meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee today to discuss the current heatwave.

It came after Mr Johnson missed his third meeting on the UK’s first red extreme heat warning on Saturday, while attending a farewell party for close allies at Chequers.

Instead, the prime minister was paying a visit to the Farnborough Air Show in Hampshire – just days after finding time to fly in a Typhoon jet with the RAF. Later in the day, Mr Johnson was due to defend his record in office from the despatch box as the Commons debates a confidence motion in the government.

Downing Street said that today’s Cobra will be led by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Kit Malthouse, and insisted the prime minister was being constantly updated on the situation.

Our political editor Andrew Woodcock has the full report here:

Boris Johnson accused of ‘clocking off’ as he misses emergency meeting on heatwave

Tory candidates show tepid support for net zero amid extreme heat

13:22 , Andy Gregory

Our climate correspondent Saphora Smith reports:

Britain is braced to record its highest temperature ever on Monday or Tuesday. Scientists have made it clear this heatwave has been made more likely, hotter and longer due to the human-caused climate emergency.

And yet, when asked to confirm whether there would be no backing down on the UK government’s legally-binding climate targets if they became prime minister against the backdrop of the heatwave, Conservative leadership hopefuls’ responses were weak.

• Only the former chancellor Rishi Sunak said he backed the net zero by 2050 target without a major ‘but.”

• Foreign secretary Liz Truss said she backed it but would place a “moratorium” on the green levy.

• Penny Mordaunt said she backed it but the plan could not “clobber” people, and had to support levelling up, industrial strategy and energy resilience.

• Tom Tugenhadt and Kemi Badenoch were less supportive of the pledge with Ms Badenoch saying if there are things in the plan that will bankrupt this country or make life difficult for ordinary people “I will change them.”

It comes as a poll found that taking action on the climate emergency is the bottom priority for Conservative members in the party’s leadership contest.

Schools see a third of pupils absent as children stay at home

13:10 , Andy Gregory

Headteachers are seeing around a third of pupils absent from school as parents choose to keep children home during the hottest days forecast in the UK’s heatwave, my colleague Zoe Tidman reports.

A number of schools are teaching remotely on Monday and Tuesday, when the Met Office is forecasting temperatures to soar into the high 30C and potentially even reach 43C for the first time.

Many are staying open in the scorching weather, with measures being introduced to keep children cool such as ditching normal uniform – either for PE kits or own clothes – or letting them go home early.

Headteachers whose schools have kept their doors open told The Independent they had been significant drop in attendance on Monday, with a number of them saying attendance was down by around 30 per cent – or by more than half in other others.

You can read the full report here:

Schools see a third of pupils absent in potentially-record breaking heatwave

Jeremy Clarkson criticised for ‘exceptionally stupid’ tweet about heatwave

13:04 , Andy Gregory

Jeremy Clarkson has prompted a backlash after an apparent dig officials’ response to the heatwave in the UK, tweeting: “It’s very hot in the south of France but so far as I know, there’s no DefCon 8 level 3 killer death heatwave warning in place.”

But French officials have in fact issued several extreme weather warnings, and 16,000 people have now been evacuated from areas in the south coast amid the threat of wildfires.

Climate journalist Dave Vetter responded to the former Top Gear presenter’s tweet with a map of European wildfire outbreaks, commenting: “You could, indeed you have, filled several books with all the stuff you don’t know.”

My colleague Louis Chilton has more details here:

Jeremy Clarkson criticised for ‘exceptionally stupid’ tweet about heatwave

Climate emergency is bottom priority for Tory members in leadership contest, poll finds

12:58 , Andy Gregory

Taking action on the climate emergency appears to be the bottom priority for Conservative members in the party’s leadership contest, our policy correspondent Jon Stone reports.

Just 4 per cent of those surveyed by pollster YouGov said hitting the UK’s net zero emissions target by 2050 was one of their top three priorities for the next prime minister.

The survey, commissioned by the Times found that winning a general election, cutting taxes, increasing defend spending and strengthening the UK’s global standing were all more important to members.

Out of the 10 policy areas listed, reaching net zero was placed bottom.

Climate emergency is bottom priority for Tory members, poll finds

UK must ‘up the game’ in its resilience to future heatwaves

12:38 , Andy Gregory

Our senior news correspondent Samuel Lovett reports:

The UK must “up the game” in making the country more resilient to future heatwaves, leading scientists have said, as warnings are raised that thousands of people could die from this summer’s high temperatures.

Leading experts have said that such temperatures will become more frequent in the near future, endangering lives across the country and bringing the country to a halt. To help the population cope, more must be done to ‘heat-proof’ homes and cities, the scientists say.

“This heatwave is telling us, along with the evidence developed over years, is that we really need to up the game in terms of adaptation and resilience in the UK and in other countries,” said Nigel Arnell, a professor of climate system science at the University of Reading.

Professor Hannah Cloke, a natural hazards researcher at the University of Reading, said “severe heat waves are a problem that's not going away – and they will get worse.”

She added: “We can no longer tolerate poor design of our buildings and our cities, and we urgently need to think about things like reducing overheating, shading trees, building for cooling, and providing these public cooling spaces … because we're not prepared and we’re not built for 40 degrees.”

Over the past decade, 2,000 extra deaths have been reported each year during England’s heatwave episodes, according to research from Dr Eunice Lo, a climate scientist at the University of Bristol Cabot Institute for the Environment.

She said that “we don't know what the mortality outcome is going to be exactly” for the current heatwave, “but we know the risk is high,” adding that “even the fit and healthy people” will be vulnerable.

“We do need to be aware and take precautions and definitely not view this as a normal summer day or something to go out and have fun with,” Dr Lo said.

Police officer gives water to on-duty Buckingham Palace guard

12:28 , Andy Gregory

A police officer has been photographed holding up a cup of water to the mouth of a heavily-dressed guard at Buckingham Palace, as the mercury quickly soared to above 30C in the capital this morning.

Downing Street fields concerns over extreme heat

12:25 , Andy Gregory

Downing Street said a “range of measures” were in place to cope with the impact of the heat.

Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said: “In the NHS, for example, we are increasing ambulance control room staff and on NHS 111. There are specialist teams from Network Rail and Transport for London monitoring the impact of higher temperatures so they can keep services running.”

The Department for Transport is in touch with port operators, highways agencies and the police to “check their contingency plans”.

How hot does it need to be for schools to close?

12:16 , Chiara Giordano

The UK is gripped by blistering heat with a danger to life warning issued by forecasters over temperatures as high as 42C.

While temperatures soar into the 30s, some schools have taken the decision to close but many remain open.

So how hot does it have to be for schools to close?

Maryam Zakir-Hussain explains:

How hot does it need to be for schools to close?

UK’s highest temperature could be broken twice in next two days, Met Office says

12:01 , Chiara Giordano

The UK’s highest temperature could be broken twice in the next two days, according to the Met Office.

Extreme temperatures of 37C and 38C are forecast in parts of England on Monday, and highs touching 40C could be recorded on Tuesday.

Our climate correspondent Saphora Smith has the full story:

UK’s highest temperature could be broken twice in next two days, Met Office says

UK could see hottest day in history as temperatures predicted to hit 43C

11:50 , Chiara Giordano

The chief executive of the Met Office confirmed "we may well see the hottest day in the UK in history" on Monday, but Tuesday is expected to be even hotter, with some forecasts estimating highs of 43C.

Professor Penelope Endersby told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We think today we may well see the hottest day in the UK in history, with the hottest temperatures in the South East, but actually the highest temperatures we expect tomorrow, and those temperatures will be further north as that warm air pushes north. So it's tomorrow that we're really seeing the higher chance of 40 degrees and temperatures above that.

"Even possibly above that... 41 isn't off the cards. We've even got some 43s in the model but we're hoping it won't be as high as that."

She added that such extreme temperatures are not expected beyond Tuesday, but that the Met Office will then be monitoring the possibility of drought in the coming months.

Boy, 13, is third person to die swimming during hot weather

11:12 , Chiara Giordano

A 13-year-old boy has been found dead after getting into difficulty while swimming in a river in Northumberland.

He is the third person to die swimming during the UK heatwave, after a 16-year-old and a 50-year-old both died in Yorkshire.

Northumbria Police this morning confirmed a body had been found in the search for a missing teenager who got into trouble in the river near Ovingham on Sunday.

Holly Bancroft has the full story:

Boy, 13, is third person to die swimming during UK heatwave

Rail services returning to normal on Wednesday will depend on damage to infrastructure

11:00 , Chiara Giordano

Jake Kelly, spokesman for Network Rail has warned services returning to normal on Wednesday "will depend on the damage that the weather does to the infrastructure" over the course of Monday and Tuesday.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Our advice very strongly to customers in England and Wales today and tomorrow is to only travel if absolutely essential, and to expect a very reduced train service and delays.

"And of course, as your listeners were hearing, on the East Coast mainline, that's the route from London to destinations like Peterborough, Leeds and York, tomorrow, unfortunately, there won't be a train service and passengers should not travel.

"We haven't taken any of those decisions lightly, but we've not been faced with these exceptional temperatures before."

Looking ahead to the rest of the week, Mr Kelly said: "We hope and expect to run a full service on Wednesday and beyond, but that will depend on the damage that the weather does to the infrastructure over the next couple of days. We have lots of plans in place to make sure that we can run."

Schools cancel detentions and sports days

10:43 , Chiara Giordano

Schools are cancelling detentions and sports days because of the heatwave.

Northwood Community Primary School in Kirkby, Merseyside said sports day had been cancelled on Monday, although “children can still attend school in their PE kits until the end of term”.

And King Charles I School, a secondary school in Worcestershire, has cancelled all on-site detentions on Monday and Tuesday.

Where are the hottest places in the UK today?

10:33 , Chiara Giordano

Some places could see the hottest day on record this week as temperatures are set to soar to 42C.

Here’s a rundown on which parts of the UK are expected to bear the brunt of the heat:

Where are the hottest places in the UK today?

Extreme temperatures could be seen once every three years by 2100, says Met Office chief

10:18 , Chiara Giordano

The chief executive of the Met Office has said that, while extreme temperatures remain "rare", by 2100 temperatures like those expected this week could be seen in the UK as frequently as once in every three years as a result of climate change.

Professor Penelope Endersby told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "These temperatures are unattainable in the UK without climate change, they just don't appear in the ensembles at all.

"They're still rare in today's 1.1 - 1.2-degree warmed climate, but by 2100, we're expecting them to be anywhere between one in 15 and one in three years, depending on the emissions pathways we take between now and then."

She added: "We will certainly need to make changes to our infrastructure, transport, hospitals, care, homes, all those sorts of things, as well as to our domestic building designs.

"So yes, we need to make short-term changes for things like cooling centres and then longer-term changes, as well as assuming the very good progress we've already made as a nation towards net zero."

People urged to close windows and curtains as temperatures soar

09:49 , Chiara Giordano

BBC Weather forecaster Simon King is advising people to close their windows and curtains this morning to keep houses cool as temperatures rise rapidly.

Speed restrictions could double journey times for rail passengers

09:12 , Chiara Giordano

Speed restrictions imposed on trains amid fears of rails buckling in the heat could more than double journey times for passengers, the chief spokesman for Network Rail has said.

Kevin Groves told Sky News that trips which typically take two hours could take “more than four hours” as emergency measures have been brought in to prevent trains derailing.

“Certainly later on today that (buckling) is a strong possibility, which is why, from about midday today through till 8pm tonight, there will be large swathes of England and Wales that will have emergency heat-related speed restrictions placed on the rail network,” he said.

Mr Groves promised refunds to any passengers who booked journeys on Monday and Tuesday who rearrange travel for later in the week.

“Our advice to passengers if they can, today and tomorrow, is only travel if it’s really necessary; otherwise try and shift your arrangements to later in the week and you’ll get a full refund,” he said.

Temperatures will ease from Wednesday onwards, say Met Office

08:45 , Joe Middleton

Chief meteorologist at the Met Office Paul Davies said temperatures will ease from next Wednesday onwards but warned another heatwave later in summer could not be ruled out.

Mr Davies told Sky News: “When we look to the future in terms of the next week, there is an easier time because in fact the temperatures start to ease back to what we describe as slightly above normal from about Wednesday onwards.

“But as we move into all this, you just can’t rule out another plume.”

He added that holiday-goers should also check the weather overseas because the heat is likely to be “sustainable and pretty intense” over the course of the month.

What are your rights to legally leave work if it’s too hot?

08:34 , Joe Middleton

Summer in the UK usually means one thing: heatwaves.

British summertime is long-awaited after our lengthy cold winters, and yet we never seem to be properly prepared for the inevitable heatwave (or heatwaves if we’re lucky).

This week the Met Office has issued its first ever red warning for heat with temperatures expected to climb to between 38C and 40C in some parts of the country.

But how hot does it need to be before workers should be sent home by their employers?

Click the link below to find out:

What are your rights to legally leave work if it’s too hot?

Southern Rail warns people not to travel unless journey is ‘absolutely essential’

08:19 , Joe Middleton

Southern Rail warned commuters this morning to only travel if their journey was “absolutely essential”.

The train company also said they will be running a reduced service due to the severe weather conditions.

People should ‘take it easy’ during the heatwave but could go to the beach, suggests Malthouse

08:11 , Joe Middleton

People should “just take it easy” during the heatwave, and could go to the beach to avoid the worst of the “ferocious” heat, a Cabinet minister suggested.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Kit Malthouse told Sky News: “If you are lucky enough not to be working today and you are going to the beach, obviously I know you will take lots of sun cream and water and an umbrella and all those kinds of things and be sensible. But we need to recognise that there are some people who will not cope well in the heat and what we want is for everybody to look out for them.

“Lots of people will go about their lives perfectly normally, for example we have said that schools should stay open and kids should go to school, very often they are safer in schools and kids need to learn and schools can look after them and hydrate them and keep them nice and cool.

“But we just need to be sensible, we have not seen this kind of heat before in this country.”

Mr Malthouse defended the idea that people could still go to the beach: “Some people may wish to. It will be cooler at the coast than it is at the centre of the country, particularly in the Midlands and in London.

“But what we are saying to people is that they need to take responsibility for themselves, recognise that this is a really ferocious heat that we haven’t seen in this country before and adapt their behaviour accordingly.”

Heatwaves are getting worse - what role does climate change play?

07:47 , Joe Middleton

As summer kicks into high gear, heatwaves have already gripped parts of the United States, Europe and South Asia with recording-breaking temperatures and deadly conditions.

In the past 100 years, heatwaves have become hotter and more frequent across the world, according to the latest report from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the global authority on climate science.

The average global temperature has risen roughly 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.2 degrees Fahrenheit) since the Industrial Revolution began in the 19th century.

The IPCC is unequivocal about what’s causing this additional heat in the atmosphere: emissions created largely from humanity’s burning of fossil fuels.

Ethan Freedman reports.

Heatwaves are getting worse - what role does climate change play?

Monday night will be ‘very oppressive’, warns meteorologist

07:36 , Joe Middleton

Chief meteorologist at the Met Office Paul Davies warned Monday night will be “very oppressive” and it will be difficult to sleep in the heat.

The top forecaster said he was “really concerned” about the UK hitting 40 or 41C on Tuesday.

He told Sky News: “Tonight will be very oppressive, I mean it’s actually difficult sleeping conditions.

“And tomorrow is the day where we are really concerned about a good chance now of hitting 40 or 41C, and with that all the health conditions that come with those higher temperatures.”

Boy, 16, dies while swimming in open water amid the heatwave warnings

07:15 , Stuti Mishra

A teenage boy has died while swimming with friends in a canal in Manchester.The 16-year-old was seen struggling in the water at Salford Quays, in Greater Manchester, at around 6.15pm on Saturday.

Police, fire and ambulance services were called and a search was mounted. A boy’s body was located and recovered by specialist divers overnight.

As the record-breaking heatwave begins, the force said people need to avoid being tempted to cool off in reservoirs, rivers, canals or ponds.

Maryam Zakir-Hussain has more:

Boy, 16, dies while swimming with friends in Manchester canal

Heatwave dominates newspaper frontpages

07:00 , Stuti Mishra

Monday’s front pages are dominated by the heatwave, which is set to send temperatures soaring beyond 40C, prompting the government to declare a national heatwave emergency for the first time.

The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph carry fears of “meltdown Monday”, with The Independent adding that ministers have been urged to “take action to make Britain fit to cope with extreme heat”.

View more front pages:

What the papers say – July 18

Train companies urge people not to travel

06:43 , Stuti Mishra

More than a dozen train companies are urging Britons not to travel early next week as the UK’s first red extreme heat warning comes into force.

A total of 21 operators – ranging from Transport for Wales and Gatwick Express to the Transpennine Express and Southern – said they will be running a slower service on Monday and Tuesday after National Rail implemented speed restrictions across its network.

Speed restrictions are used by train companies during periods of hot weather to avoid any damage being made to the tracks and to prevent rails from buckling.

Read more:

Train companies urge people not to travel during heatwave

Water companies report supply issues

06:25 , Stuti Mishra

Water providers are experiencing supply issues due to the hot weather, with some reporting lower pressure levels and others warning of further disruption.

Affinity Water said the heat is resulting in lower water pressure in areas such as London, Essex and Surrey.

The company urged customers to avoid non-essential water usage and said it predicts an extra 164 million litres of water will be needed on Monday compared to normal demand.

Read more:

Water companies report supply issues as heatwave causes demand to soar

Editorial: We must take this heatwave seriously – even if the prime minister won’t

06:06 , Stuti Mishra

“Unaccustomed as the British are to such hot weather, the heatwave will undoubtedly bring with it an unwelcome increase in sunstroke and heat exhaustion. It is only to be expected.

It is an unprecedented phenomenon in modern times (no doubt when dinosaurs roamed Surrey it was situation normal), and there’s a natural tendency to get out and enjoy it while it lasts. Before very much longer, of course, the inhabitants of the UK will be shivering in their poorly insulated Victorian terraces and inter-war mock Tudor semis in fear of the gas bill.”

Read more:

Editorial: We must take this heatwave seriously – even if the prime minister won’t

London ‘will be hotter than Caribbean and Sahara’ amid emergency alert

05:21 , Stuti Mishra

London is set to be 38C amid the heatwave warning, hotter than the Caribbean, the Western Sahara and popular holiday destinations in Europe.

The rise in temperatures has forced the UK Health Security Agency to issue a level 4 heat-health alert – described as an “emergency” – while the Met Office has issued the UK’s first red extreme heat warning, with both running from Monday to Wednesday.

Read more:

London ‘will be hotter than Caribbean and Sahara’ amid emergency alert

What is a heatwave?

03:49 , Stuti Mishra

The Met Office defines a heatwave as “an extended period of hot weather relative to the expected conditions of the area at that time of year, which may be accompanied by high humidity”.

The UK experiences occasional heatwaves but these are less frequent and intense than those seen elsewhere around the world.

A record was broken in summer 2019 with a maximum temperature of 38.7C recorded at Cambridge University Botanic Garden on 25 July.

Read more here:

What is a heatwave?

NHS braced for surge in patients as ‘danger to life’ heatwave warning comes into force

03:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The NHS is bracing itself for a surge in the numbers of people admitted to hospital as the heatwave which is forecast to bring record temperature to the UK grips the country.

Extra measures are being enforced for ambulance services after the Met Office issued amber and red alerts.

The Met Office has issued the UK’s first ever red alert across a large part of England – from London to Manchester and York – as record-breaking temperatures are forecast for early next week, writes Lamiat Sabin.

NHS braced for surge in number of patients amid ‘danger to life’ heatwave warning

Britons should ‘enjoy the sunshine,’ says Dominic Raab amid warnings people will die due to extreme heat

02:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Britons should “enjoy the sunshine” during the heatwave, Dominic Raab has said, despite warnings the extreme temperatures could cause thousands of deaths.

The deputy prime minister said people should be “resilient” as temperatures are set to skyrocket to 40C on Monday and Tuesday, writes Joe Middleton.

“Obviously there is some common sense practical advice we are talking about – stay hydrated, stay out of the sun at the hottest times, wear sun cream – those sorts of things,” he told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme.

Britons should ‘enjoy the sunshine,’ says Raab amid warnings of extreme heat

ICYMI- Boris Johnson skips heatwave crisis meeting to ‘host Chequers party’

01:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Boris Johnson skipped a crisis meeting on the looming life-threatening heatwave apparently to host a party at his luxury Chequers rural retreat.

Ministers and experts gathered in the Cabinet Office on Saturday afternoon for a Cobra meeting to prepare for temperatures hitting an unprecedented 40C on Monday.

But the prime minister was 30 miles away in Buckinghamshire at a get together for friends and family, ahead of being kicked out of his country retreat at the start of September, writes Rob Merrick.

Boris Johnson skips heatwave crisis meeting to ‘host Chequers party’

Use these effective tips to help handle the heatwave if you don’t have AC

Monday 18 July 2022 00:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

As the heatwave approaches, it’s important to know how to keep your home cool, especially if you do not have air-conditioning.

From closing your windows during the day to building your own DIY AC, here is what you can do to lower the temperature in your home.

How to keep your house cool in a heatwave

Concerns for welfare of someone in the water

Sunday 17 July 2022 22:25 , Katy Clifton

Emergency services launched a search after receiving reports of concern for the welfare on a male seen in a river in Northumberland on Sunday.

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 4.12pm this afternoon to reports of concerns for someone in the water off Piper Road in Ovingham.

“We currently have seven resources on scene but are currently unable to provide any further information.”

Northumbria Police tweeted: “Shortly before 4.15pm today we received a report of concern for the welfare of a male who was seen in the river near to Ovingham.

“Emergency services were deployed to the area and remain at the scene to locate the male and bring him to safety.

“There is a large multi-agency presence in the area and we would ask the public to not to gather and avoid the area where possible.”

Government urged to act now

Sunday 17 July 2022 21:30 , Katy Clifton

Ministers have been urged to take action to make Britain fit to cope with extreme heat as the country faces temperatures above 40C for the first time.

Richard Millar, head of adaptation at the Climate Change Committee, which advises the government, told The Independent around 2,000 people die each year due to heat-related injury and illness in the UK but that could rise to around 7,000 by mid-century if the government doesn’t act urgently to adapt to climate change.

Read more below:

Government ‘must act now’ to protect against extreme heat as UK braces for 40C

Truss and Sunak’s view on net zero target

Sunday 17 July 2022 21:00 , Katy Clifton

Meanwhile, foreign secretary Liz Truss said she backed the target, but “we need to deliver it in a way that doesn’t harm people and businesses”, highlighting her plan for a moratorium on the green levy on energy bills.

Rishi Sunak backed the target, saying it was about the inheritance left to children and grandchildren. “But we need to bring people with us and if we go too hard and too fast then we will lose people and that’s no way to get there,” he said.

Tory rivals on climate targets

Sunday 17 July 2022 20:30 , Katy Clifton

As temperatures prepare to hit record levels, over in the Tory leadership debate this evening Penny Mordaunt has she is committed to the target of reaching net zero emissions by 2050, but “it mustn’t clobber people”.

Tom Tugendhat told the ITV debate he was committed to “making sure we deliver the nuclear reactors to keep us green”, supporting carbon capture and storage projects and changing “the way we do wind farms” so they can be delivered more quickly.

Kemi Badenoch said the 2050 target was for a time when none of them would be in office “to be accountable for it”.

“If there are things in the plan that will bankrupt this country, I will change them, if there are things in the plan that will make life difficult for ordinary people, I will change them,” she said. “I do believe in climate change, but we have to do it in a way that is sustainable.”

Water providers suffer supply issues

Sunday 17 July 2022 20:04 , Katy Clifton

Water providers are experiencing supply issues due to the hot weather, with some reporting lower pressure levels and others warning of further disruption.

Affinity Water said the heat is resulting in lower water pressure in areas such as London, Essex and Surrey.

The company urged customers to avoid non-essential water usage and said it predicts an extra 164 million litres of water will be needed on Monday compared to normal demand.

“Because of the hot weather, many of us are using much more water,” the provider said.

“This means you may notice lower pressure or no water when demand is higher in your area.”

How hot does it have to be to legally leave work?

Sunday 17 July 2022 19:00 , Katy Clifton

Temperatures are set to soar above 40C in the coming days, but how hot does it need to be before workers should be sent home by their employers?

Take a look at all you need to know below:

Can you legally leave work if it becomes too hot?

Travel warnings

Sunday 17 July 2022 18:30 , Katy Clifton

London North Eastern Railway has urged people not to travel on Tuesday.

“On Tuesday July 19, DO NOT TRAVEL between #LondonKingsCross and south of #York & #Leeds, as no trains will run,” it said in a tweet.

“Only travel if necessary to other destinations.”

People who have already bought tickets are urged to visit the LNER website for information about refunds.

UK weather: What is a national heatwave emergency?

Sunday 17 July 2022 18:00 , Lamiat Sabin

A national emergency is declared when a heatwave is so severe and, or prolonged that its impacts extend beyond the health sector, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

Transport, food and businesses could also be affected and it could cause power or water shortages, according to the agency whose job it is to protect the population from health threats.

A national emergency can also be declared when the “integrity of the health and social care systems is threatened”.

Read more from our climate correspondent Saphora Smith

All you need to know about national heatwave emergency

Sun-day beach fun – in pictures

Sunday 17 July 2022 17:00 , Lamiat Sabin

People urged to take precautions in Ireland

Sunday 17 July 2022 16:30 , Katy Clifton

Meanwhile in Ireland, people are being advised to take precautions as a three-day heat warning has come into effect.

The Status Yellow alert began at 6am on Sunday and will last until 9pm on Tuesday, with temperatures of up to 32C possible in places on Monday.

The Met Eireann weather warning stated: “On Sunday and Monday exceptionally warm weather will occur over Ireland with daytime temperatures of 25 to 30 degrees and possibly up to 32 degrees in places on Monday.

“Night time temperatures will range from 15 to 20 degrees.”

ICYMI: People should ‘enjoy the sunshine,’ says deputy PM

Sunday 17 July 2022 16:00 , Lamiat Sabin

In case you missed it...

Britons should “enjoy the sunshine” during the heatwave, Dominic Raab has said, despite warnings that extreme temperatures could cause thousands of deaths.

The deputy prime minister said people should be “resilient” as temperatures are set to skyrocket to 40C on Monday and Tuesday.

Read the full story here by Joe Middleton

Britons should ‘enjoy the sunshine,’ says Raab amid warnings of extreme heat

Job centres to be closed in areas issued amber and red alerts

Sunday 17 July 2022 15:30 , Lamiat Sabin

Job centres in most of the country will be closed on Monday and Tuesday due to the record temperatures expected during the heatwave.

The Department of Work and Pensions tweeted: “Jobcentres and health assessment offices open to customers in areas issued with a red severe weather warning will be closed on Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 July.

“Benefit payments will be made as normal.

“You don't need to contact us or worry about your claim.

“We will make every effort to contact people with an appointment on those days, to have it over the telephone or rearrange. Our enquiry lines will still be open.”

The map below shows where the Met Office’s amber and red weather warnings apply:

TfL and train firms advise against travel

Sunday 17 July 2022 14:30 , Lamiat Sabin

Transport for London (TfL) and London North East Railway (LNER) have urged people to undertake only necessary travel over the next few days.

TfL boss Andy Lord told LBC that there will be reduced services across the network “because of the safety restrictions we need to put in place due to the heat.”

LNER tweeted: “On Tuesday July 19, DO NOT TRAVEL between LondonKingsCross and south of#York & Leeds, as no trains will run. Only travel if necessary to other destinations.”

Avanti West Coast said passengers should travel only if “absolutely necessary” from Sunday until Tuesday as there will be fewer services and possible delays due to “Network Rail-imposed speed restrictions.”

During very hot weather, the speed of trains has to be limited to reduce the risk of damaging the tracks, which can buckle in extreme cases.

Passengers who have already bought tickets are advised to visit the companies’ websites for information about refunds.

Mercury could reach 42C in East Midlands - BBC forecaster

Sunday 17 July 2022 14:00 , Lamiat Sabin

BBC Weather presenter and meteorologist Simon King has pointed out that temperatures could reach 42°C in the East Midlands on Tuesday.

This is 3°C more than the maximum of 40°C predicted for London on what is expected to be the UK’s hottest day on record.

Mr King tweeted: “Still can’t fathom how the U.K. record will be exceeded on Monday and again on Tuesday by at least 2/3 degrees (38.7°C). Just shouldn’t happen.”

Manchester police warn against open water swimming after teen’s death

Sunday 17 July 2022 13:30 , Lamiat Sabin

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have repeated warnings about cooling off in open water after a 16-year-old died while swimming with friends in a canal in Salford Quays.

The teenager was last seen struggling in the water at around 6.15pm on Saturday. After emergency services were called, a boy’s body was later located and recovered by specialist divers overnight.

Police said that, although formal identification has not yet taken place, the body is believed to be that of the missing 16-year-old and that his family is being supported by specially-trained officers.

‘Crumbling’ NHS buildings ‘unsuitable for heatwave,’ says crossbench peer

Sunday 17 July 2022 13:00 , Lamiat Sabin

Lord Victor Adebowale has voiced his concerns over hospital and GP buildings being able to cope with the extreme heat over the next few days.

The crossbench peer and chairman of the NHS Confederation told Times Radio: “The fact of the matter is we have crumbling buildings. We’ve had 10 years of austerity, in which hospitals have not been invested in terms of capital buildings.

“So if you talk to my members, they will tell you in many cases we’ve got buildings that are unsuited to deal with the normal business of getting patients treated in and out, let alone in the hot weather where some of these buildings were built in the 18th century.

“It’s not just hospitals, I need to mention primary care GPs. Many of them are in old buildings where they don’t have proper air conditioning or fans.

“We’ve got mental health systems which are going to be really stretched already because of vacancies. So we need to pay attention to this.”

‘Children should be in school during heatwave,’ says Labour frontbencher

Sunday 17 July 2022 12:30 , Lamiat Sabin

Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said children should be in school rather than at home on what are expected to be the hottest days in the UK on record.

Her comments come after a number of schools are reportedly closing on Monday and Tuesday until the weather cools.

Ms Phillipson was asked if she would support parents who decide to keep their children off school on those days.

The Labour MP told Sophy Ridge On Sunday on Sky News: “I am sure that headteachers will be doing everything they possibly can to make sure their schools are kept as cool as possible, that children are kept out of the hot sun and are kept indoors as much as possible.

“I think children have missed out quite a lot already in terms of their education and it’s right for them to be there.”

‘Ferocious heatwave could kill people, says head of paramedics’ assocation

Sunday 17 July 2022 12:00 , Lamiat Sabin

The “ferocious heat” over the UK over the next few days could result in people dying, the chief executive of the College of Paramedics has warned.

Tracy Nicholls told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: “This isn’t like a lovely hot day where we can put a bit of sunscreen on, go out and enjoy a swim and a meal outside.

“This is serious heat that could actually, ultimately, end in people’s deaths because it is so ferocious. We’re just not set up for that sort of heat in this country.”

‘Enjoy sunshine but use common sense,’ deputy PM Dominic Raab says

Sunday 17 July 2022 11:02 , Lamiat Sabin

People should “enjoy the sunshine” and be “resilient enough” during the coming days of the heatwave, deputy prime minister Dominic Raab said.

The Met Office has issued amber and red alerts warning of “potential serious illness or danger to life” as temperatures reach a peak of up to 40C on Monday and Tuesday.

Mr Raab told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: “Obviously there is some common sense practical advice we are talking about – stay hydrated, stay out of the sun at the hottest times, wear sun cream – those sorts of things.

“We ought to enjoy the sunshine and actually we ought to be resilient enough through some of the pressures it will place.”

Put your PJs in the freezer, and other tips for getting to sleep in the heat

Sunday 17 July 2022 10:00 , Lamiat Sabin

A health expert has shared advice on how to drop off to sleep during the record-breaking temperatures expected over the next few days.

Julie Gooderick, an “extreme environments” expert at the University of Brighton, said the ideal room temperature for sleeping is around 18-21C.

Air-conditioning units would easily reduce the temperature of a room – but not everyone can, or is willing, to run the devices in their homes.

Using fans, opening windows at night, and keeping the curtains closed during the day will help prevent a room from getting too hot.

She also advises using a thin sheet instead of a duvet, using cooling pads on the skin, having a cold shower, or putting pyjamas in the freezer a few hours before bedtime to help cool down the body as much as possible.

Avoiding napping during the day will also help prevent sleeplessness at night, Ms Gooderick said.

Chafing chefs and boiling brewers: the hardest jobs to do in a heatwave

Sunday 17 July 2022 09:00 , Lamiat Sabin

Some jobs are tougher than others in the heat – especially when already dealing with scorching temperatures, like in a kitchen.

Trade unions have called for working from home to be allowed where possible and many companies have relaxed their dress codes.

But, of course, many jobs cannot be done from home and some become all the more taxing when the weather hots up.

Colin Drury has spoken to some essential workers about how they cope with working during a heatwave.

You can read his list here:

From chafing chef to boiling brewers: the hardest jobs to do in a heatwave

Police warn motorists never to leave pets in cars during heatwave

Sunday 17 July 2022 08:03 , Lamiat Sabin

Motorists should never leave their pets unattended in cars during hot weather.

This has been reiterated by Merseyside Police as temperatures are set to reach up to 40C over the coming days.

Using a string of emojis, the force warned that leaving pets in vehicles during heatwaves could lead to their deaths by overheating.

In the south of England, Thames Valley Police issued the same warning, adding that people should keep the windows of their cars and homes closed – when they go out – to minimise the risk of theft.

Amber and red alerts warn of ‘potential health effects or danger to life’

Sunday 17 July 2022 07:50 , Lamiat Sabin

An amber “extreme heat” alert has been issued by the Met Office for today, warning of “potential serious illness or danger to life”.

The alert applies to most of England and Wales, except the northern-most parts of England.

Over the coming days, it’s expected that the heatwave will reach its peak with temperatures of up to 41C.

This has triggered a red alert for Monday and Tuesday – when “exceptional, perhaps record-breaking temperatures are likely”, the forecaster said.

Both the amber and red alerts warn that “population-wide adverse health effects are likely to be experienced, not limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to potential serious illness or danger to life.”

The Met Office adds: “Substantial changes in working practices and daily routines likely to be required.

“Significantly more people are likely to visit coastal areas, lakes and rivers leading to increased risk of water safety incidents

“Delays on roads and road closures are possible, along with delays and cancellations to rail and air travel, with potential for significant welfare issues for those who experience even moderate delays.”

‘Cloud and patchy rain’ predicted across some northern areas on Sunday

Sunday 17 July 2022 06:55 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Schools to close early on Monday and Tuesday

Sunday 17 July 2022 06:31 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Schools have decided to send children home early on Monday and Tuesday following an extreme heat warning for early next week.

For most schools in England, the week beginning 18 July is the last few days of classes before the summer holidays begin.

However, due to the scorching weather, a growing number of schools have announced they will be finishing the final days of the academic year early to protect both students and staff.

Maryam Zakir-Hussain reports.

UK heatwave: Schools to close early on Monday as extreme temperatures warned

Heath secretary pledges extra measures to tackle heatwave

Sunday 17 July 2022 05:04 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Health secretary Steve Barclay has pledged new measures, including extra working hours for ambulance crews, to tackle UK’s first national heatwave emergency.

“The clear message to the public is to take sensible steps in terms of water, shade and cover, which many people are aware of. That’s the best way of mitigating against the heat,” Mr Barclay was quoted by Sky News as saying.

“We’re asking people to keep an eye out for their neighbours and those who may be vulnerable. We’re also putting in additional contingency support as well.”

He added: “We’re putting in extra measures in terms of call handlers, support for fleet [and] extra hours of capacity within the ambulances. Each ambulance trust has well-developed contingency plans for extreme weather.”