Rare red heat warning kicks in the UK with temperatures expected to get near 40C<\/p>\n
A rare red heat warning has kicked it at 9am London (10am Europe) for large parts of England and Wales, just for the second time ever, with temperatures expected to get close to 40C in some parts of the country.<\/p>\n
![\"People](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/4358.jpg\")
People use umbrellas and shopping bags to shield themselves from the sun while waiting to cross Oxford Street as Britain experiences record temperatures disrupting schools and transport networks, in London, Britain. Photograph: Guglielmo Mangiapane\/Reuters<\/p>\n
The warning covers an area stretching from London to Swansea and Somerset to Birmingham, and is due to last until 9pm on Thursday, PA news agency reported.<\/p>\n
Meteorologist are expecting that during the peak of the heatwave, the temperature could come close to the UK\u2019s all-time high of 40.3C from July 2022.<\/p>\n
Gulp. Stay safe everyone.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s dangerous\u2019: how UK schools, care homes and other workplaces are coping in soaring heat<\/p>\n Patrick Butler, Richard Adams, Andrew Gregory, Amelia Hill, Steven Morris, Gwyn Topham and Matthew Weaver<\/p>\n With temperatures in the UK approaching record levels for June, people are being advised to avoid exercise and unnecessary travel.<\/p>\n So how do you even work in this heat?<\/p>\n A person goes past a sign warning passengers of the hot weather on the London Underground as the UK is set to experience its hottest June day on record during a heatwave in London, Britain. Photograph: Tolga Akmen\/EPA<\/p>\n We look at how various sectors of the economy are coping with unprecedented temperatures, and how working practices will have to adapt to increasingly frequent heatwaves that are predicted to be longer and more intense owing to the global climate emergency.<\/p>\n For example, school leaders say it is lucky the heatwave arrived after the summer GCSE and A-level exam season, just as May\u2019s heatwave coincided with most schools being closed for half-term.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re dodging a few bullets, but I\u2019m not sure how much longer we can keep dodging,\u201d said Jo Rowley, a deputy headteacher in Stafford..<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Red alert for 16 cities in Italy as extreme temperatures expected today<\/p>\n Italy\u2019s health ministry issued \u201cred alerts\u201d for 16 cities on Wednesday with major cities such as Rome, Milan, Florence and Turin affected, AP reported.<\/p>\n People use umbrella to protect themselves from the sun during heatwave in Florence, Italy. Photograph: Anadolu\/Getty Images<\/p>\n The \u201cbollino rosso\u201d red alert signals emergency conditions that can affect not only vulnerable people but also healthy adults.<\/p>\n Temperatures could reach highs of 41C in Florence and 38C in Milan, while Rome and Naples are forecast to remain below 36C.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s not even midday in continental Europe, and some parts of France<\/a> are already reporting temperatures above 36C (Bordeaux) and even near 38C (Nantes).<\/p>\n Paris is reporting 35C.<\/p>\n A man browses electric fans on display at a supermarket during a heatwave in Bordeaux, south-western France. Photograph: Philippe Lopez\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a>‘The heat was at a different level’<\/p>\n Jane Clinton<\/p>\n Alex*, 37, who works in EU institutions in Brussels and is from Spain<\/a>, says that while he is used to high temperatures, he has seen how other countries are struggling with insufficient infrastructure to cope with extreme heat.<\/p>\n People enjoy the Parc du Cinquantenaire while hiding from the direct rays of the sun on June 23, 2026 in Brussels, Belgium. Photograph: Thierry Monasse\/Getty Images<\/p>\n He says temperatures of \u201c38C, 39C, even 40C are not unheard of in Southern Spain in July and August\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI have lived in Northern Europe<\/a>, and these regions are definitely not used to these temperatures,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it is a big shock for the local population, and for the infrastructure too. It\u2019s just not adapted to this heat. Air conditioning in restaurants and shops is not as common as it is in Spain, so 40C in Spain to me feels relatively manageable, also, because I think the climate is drier, whereas 40C, 42C, as we had in France, is very difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex was on holiday in Madrid over the weekend and drove back to Brussels with his A\/C \u201con full power\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI drove through western France<\/a>, and all the road informational screens recommended rest and hydration,\u201d he says. \u201cThis level of heat is something that I think, particularly in central and southern Spain, we are more or less used to, at least in my lifetime.\u201d<\/p>\n He says he did the same journey \u201ca few years ago\u201d in July and was able to stop off and climb the Grande Dune du Pilat in the Arcachon Bay area, south west France. This time, however, the heat was so intense that they had to wait several hours before they could make the climb.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember going up there in July, and it was beautiful,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cThis year I had to wait until sunset until 9.30pm because of the heat – it wasn\u2019t safe to go there at 5pm, which was my original intention. Compared to other trips, the heat was at a different level this year.\u201d<\/p>\n *Name has been changed<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.42 EDT<\/p>\n The Guardian\u2019s Jane Clinton has been speaking to some people affected by the heatwave.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s check what they\u2019re saying.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Lib Dems urge government to open ‘cool hubs’ to help vulnerable people at UK braces for extreme heat<\/p>\n Over in the UK, the Liberal Democrats have called for the government to immediately open air-conditioned public buildings as \u201ccool hubs\u201d for vulnerable people during the heatwave, PA news agency reported.<\/p>\n A view of the City of London skyline and financial in a heat haze this morning as the Met Office issue a red extreme heat warning. Photograph: Amer Ghazzal\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n They said gyms, leisure centres, libraries and other buildings could offer relief for those particularly at risk from the extreme heat.<\/p>\n The party also urged ministers to urgently prepare the country for more extreme temperatures by investing in cooling for hospitals, care homes and schools \u2013 echoing a call by the independent advisory Climate Change Committee on helping the UK adapt to global warming, PA said.<\/p>\n Earlier, the UK Met Office warned that a combination of extreme heat and humidity could have an impact on public health, infrastructure, power and water supplies.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.27 EDT<\/p>\n Europe heatwave ‘putting people’s health at risk,’ WHO chief warns<\/p>\n Head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned that Europe\u2019s heatwave is \u201cputting people\u2019s health are risk.\u201d<\/p>\n Here is his message<\/a> this morning:<\/p>\n \u201cEurope\u2019s heatwave is closing schools and putting people\u2019s health at risk.<\/p>\n The data are clear: temperatures across Europe are rising at roughly twice the global average rate, increasing the likelihood and severity of extreme heat in the future.<\/p>\n We cannot afford further delay. Leaders must prioritise investment in climate-resilient health systems, while also accelerating #ClimateAction and mitigating the drivers of the climate crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Europe battles record-breaking heat: is this the new normal? – The Latest<\/p>\n Europe is dealing with a debilitating heatwave, with schools closed, trains cancelled and France<\/a> holding an emergency meeting after heat-related deaths.<\/p>\n And Ant\u00f3nio Guterres, the UN chief, is urging the world to act on fossil fuels as the continent braces for record-breaking heat.<\/p>\n Lucy Hough speaks to Europe<\/a> environment correspondent Ajit Niranjan about the extraordinary heatwave hitting the continent this week.<\/p>\n Meanwhile in France<\/a>, the heatwave caused the country\u2019s first major power outage of the latest bout of extreme weather, AFP reported.<\/p>\n A heat-related incident with a transformer left around 68,000 households on Wednesday without electricity in the northwestern Finistere department, the authorities said.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Rare red heat warning kicks in the UK with temperatures expected to get near 40C<\/p>\n A rare red heat warning has kicked it at 9am London (10am Europe) for large parts of England and Wales, just for the second time ever, with temperatures expected to get close to 40C in some parts of the country.<\/p>\n People use umbrellas and shopping bags to shield themselves from the sun while waiting to cross Oxford Street as Britain experiences record temperatures disrupting schools and transport networks, in London, Britain. Photograph: Guglielmo Mangiapane\/Reuters<\/p>\n The warning covers an area stretching from London to Swansea and Somerset to Birmingham, and is due to last until 9pm on Thursday, PA news agency reported.<\/p>\n Meteorologist are expecting that during the peak of the heatwave, the temperature could come close to the UK\u2019s all-time high of 40.3C from July 2022.<\/p>\n Gulp. Stay safe everyone.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Spare a though all key workers who have no choice but have to work physically and outdoors in this weather.<\/p>\n Here is a postal worker from Paris (33C at the moment, but expected to get to 39C later).<\/p>\n A postal worker drinks water during a delivery round in Paris, France. Photograph: Adil Benayache\/SIPA\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n And a construction worker in London (28C at 9:15am, but going up to 35C later).<\/p>\n A construction worker standing on scaffolding on a hot morning as the Met Office issue a red extreme heat warning in London and south England. Photograph: Amer Ghazzal\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.24 EDT<\/p>\n The French city of Bordeaux is one of those expected to be most severely hit by extreme temperatures today.<\/p>\n It\u2019s 33C there and it\u2019s only 10am, and M\u00e9t\u00e9o France<\/a> is expecting the temperatures of up to\u2026 42C later today.<\/p>\n Tourists and residents cool off at Miroir d\u2019Eau in front of the Place de la Bourse in Bordeaux, France. Photograph: Le Gonidec Margot\/ABACA\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.03 EDT<\/p>\n So here is your weather forecast for today, with some of the key European cities:<\/p>\n Paris 41C Essentially, if you are anywhere between Lisbon (24C) and Warsaw (27C), it will be super hot.<\/p>\n Meteo France is showing that all of France is expected to go<\/a> well above 30C this morning, with two-thirds of the country<\/a> covered by a red weather alert.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> It\u2019s Jakub Krupa here, taking over from Taz Ali.<\/p>\n With the heatwave dominating the headlines across Europe<\/a>, we will run a special edition of our daily Europe Live blog today focused just on this issue.<\/p>\n I will bring you all the latest here. Good morning.<\/p>\n A Frankfurt Zoo worker sprays alpacas with water during a severe heatwave in Germany. Photograph: Mat\u00edas Basualdo\/ZUMA Press Wire\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n The French environment minister, Monique Barbut, said the heatwave in France<\/a> could continue until 14 July.<\/p>\n \u201cNext week should see a relative pause,\u201d she told the French radio channel France Inter.<\/p>\n \u201cBut M\u00e9t\u00e9o-France tells us there is a strong likelihood that, from the following week onwards, we will see a return to extreme heat, which could last until 14 July.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Jakub](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Jakub_Krupa.png\")
Jakub Krupa<\/p>\n![\"Europe](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1782296055_241_1920.jpg\")
Europe battles record-breaking heat: is this the new normal? – The LatestShare<\/a>Heat-related incident leaves 68,000 households with no electricity in northern France<\/p>\n
Bordeaux 39C
Madrid 38C
Frankfurt 37C
Brussels 36C
Rome 35C
Bologna 35C
London 34C
Amsterdam 34C
Zurich 32C
Prague 32C
Berlin 31C
Barcelona 31C<\/p>\nJakub Krupa<\/p>\n