UK braced for record breaking heat as rare red weather warnings come into force

Brits have been flocking to stores to buy themselves ice cream makers, fans, and sun cream to help them cope with the extreme heat.

Currys is reporting an almost 1,500% increase in customers searching for fans, while Lakeland said sales of ice cream makers were up by more than 500% on some lines.

John Lewis said sales of pizza ovens had soared by 557% week on week and searches for silk scarves online were up 200% on last week.

The retail giant added that shoppers were also looking for barbecues, charcoal ovens, and paddling pools.

In supermarkets, Tesco is predicting a 60% increase in sales of ice, a 48% increase in sales of ice cream and ice lollies, and a 44% spike in sales of barbecue meat.

A number of rail services operating in and out of London are recommending passengers not to travel on this week due to the soaring temperatures.

With London gripped by a heatwave, many other operators are advising passengers to travel earlier in the day to avoid the worst of the heat.

National Rail has advised passengers on Wednesday or Thursday to “only travel if absolutely necessary,” and to check before travelling on Tuesday and Friday.

The latest heatwave to hit the capital officially took hold on Monday, with red weather warnings coming into place today when temperatures are expected to exceed 37C.

To add insult to injury, the high humidity is making London feel especially uncomfortable.

A London event on tackling extreme heat has ironically been cancelled because of extreme heat, organisers confirmed.

The meeting, due to take place at the Shaw Library at the London School of Economics on Wednesday as part of Climate Action Week, was called off after the Met Office issued a Red Extreme Heat Warning for London and parts of England.

The event, titled Extreme Heat: Improving Governance and Strengthening Action Around the World, was organised by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment.

In a social media post on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance said: “The event venue, like most buildings in London, does not have any cooling mechanisms in place, and we cannot risk the wellbeing of speakers or guests by subjecting everyone to very unpleasant indoor conditions in addition to hot journeys to the venue.”

Dozens of schools in London are closing or part-closing amid rare red warnings over extreme temperatures.

Temperatures are forecast to soar to as high as 37C until Friday, prompting schools across the capital to announce they will close completely or be closing early – or that parents can pick up their pupils early.

The Heathrow Express will be running at a reduced service today due to the severe weather.

A number of other train lines have also confirmed plans for reduced services, with bosses urging passengers not to travel unless absolutely essential.

Temperatures of up to 37C are forecast in London today, with officials warning of significant disruption to daily life.

Londoners have been urged to adapt their daily routines to cope with the scorching conditions.

Many schools will close and people have been urged not to travel, as rare red heat weather warnings come into force from 9am today.

During the peak of the heatwave, temperatures could come close to the UK’s all-time high of 40.3C, measured in Lincolnshire in July 2022.

The record temperature for June of 35.6C, set in Hampshire in 1976, is expected to be smashed.

We are resuming our live weather coverage this morning, with London set to be hit with a red weather warning as temperatures reach the high 30s.

A COBR meeting was held in response to the heatwave engulfing the UK, the Government said.

A red weather warning for extreme heat covering an area stretching from London to Swansea and Somerset to Birmingham was issued by the Met Office and will come into effect from 9am on Wednesday to 9pm on Thursday.

“We are working across Government and with devolved and local partners to respond to the severe heatwave,” a Government spokesperson said.

“As part of this response, the Cabinet Office held an official level COBR meeting on Tuesday morning, and will continue to closely monitor the situation.

“As well as being uncomfortable, the red weather alerts indicate that the heat poses a risk to life.

“We encourage people to pay close attention to guidance issued by the UK Health Security Agency, other public health bodies, and organisations such as transport operators.”

Sir Sadiq Khan has triggered a “high” air pollution alert for the capital London on Wednesday on advice from forecasters at Imperial College, the third one this year.

He urged Londoners to stop their engines idling and avoid burning garden waste, which can contribute to high levels of pollution, and said details have been shared with London’s GPs and emergency departments, to ensure that they have crucial information to help vulnerable patients.

Deputy mayor for environment and energy, Mete Coban said: “Toxic air is responsible for thousands of premature deaths in London each year, which is why the mayor has done everything in his power to tackle it, which includes launching the world’s largest clean air zone.

“We are urging Londoners to look after themselves during this period of extremely hot weather and elevated pollution levels, stop their engines idling, and refrain from burning garden waste – all of which contribute to high levels of pollution.

“It is really important we all do our bit to protect those who are most vulnerable as we continue working to build a safer and greener London for all.”