Record-breaking temperatures of 40C are expected on Wednesday, with the Met Office<\/a> alert stretching from London across to Somerset and Swansea, and up towards Birmingham, until 9pm on Thursday.<\/p>\n Thousands of children are set to remain home as schools across the country, including 100 in Somerset, decide it is too hot for the classroom. <\/p>\n Network Rail has advised passengers to only travel if \u201cabsolutely necessary\u201d ahead of a rare red weather warning for extreme heat<\/a> coming into force at 9am.<\/p>\n A \u201cheat-dome\u201d settling over western Europe could bring extreme high temperatures<\/a> in some parts of England and Wales, the forecaster said.<\/p>\n Rail companies will run fewer trains and more slowly to keep services safe in the midst of the scorching temperatures.<\/p>\n In response to the weather<\/a>, the government said it held a COBR meeting on Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n Hosepipe bans<\/a> have been enforced in Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire as South East Water manages increased demand due to the heatwave<\/a>.<\/p>\n The heat has also forced hundreds of schools to send children home early, while children at some schools have been told they can wear a PE kit rather than a full school uniform.<\/p>\n <\/a>Red weather warning for extreme heat comes into force <\/p>\n A red weather warning for extreme heat covering an area stretching from London to Swansea and Somerset to Birmingham has now come into force. <\/p>\n The warning was issued by the Met Office from 9am on Wednesday to 9pm on Thursday.<\/p>\n During the peak of the heatwave on these two days, the temperature could come close to the UK\u2019s all-time high of 40.3C, which was measured in Lincolnshire in July 2022.<\/p>\n The latest heatwave is also expected to surpass the record for June of 35.6C set in Hampshire in 1976.<\/p>\n Holly Evans24 June 2026 09:00<\/p>\n <\/a>Dog owners told to avoid taking pets on walks <\/p>\n Dog owners have been advised not to take their pets out for walks during the hot weather. <\/p>\n Lauren Bennett from the RSPCA told BBC Breakfast that while dogs should still be brought outside briefly to go to the toilet, they should keep to shaded areas and minimise physical exercise. <\/p>\n She says: “Certainly, with this red weather warning, actually we would advise probably not to walk your dogs at all because there isn’t actually a cooler time of day.”<\/p>\n She adds: “Just like people, it can be fatal, which is why we tell people to change their behaviour because our pets are completely under our control so the responsibility is on us.”<\/p>\n Holly Evans24 June 2026 08:52<\/p>\n <\/a>Britain\u2019s electricity grid operator issues system warning due to heatwave<\/p>\n Britain\u2019s electricity grid operator has issued an industry warning that the power supply could be squeezed on Wednesday evening as extreme heat puts pressure on the system.<\/p>\n It marks a rare summer call out for more power from the National Energy System Operator (Neso) as the country braces for record-breaking temperatures.<\/p>\n Neso, the body which is tasked with making sure the supply of electricity matches demand for it, said it had issued a so-called electricity margin notice.<\/p>\n This sends a message to the electricity market to ask for more capacity to be made available, allowing for production to increase if necessary.<\/p>\n The notices are more typically sent during winter when demand for heating is higher.<\/p>\n A spokesman for Neso said: \u201cOur forecasts are showing tight margins on the electricity system for tomorrow evening.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is due to the impact of extremely high temperatures affecting Great Britain and the continent and low wind.\u201d<\/p>\n Neso said it was a \u201croutine tool\u201d and stressed that it \u201cdoes not mean electricity supply is at risk\u201d.<\/p>\n The notice is in effect for the period between 7pm and 10pm on Wednesday.<\/p>\n Holly Evans24 June 2026 08:32<\/p>\n <\/a>Famous London landmark closed until Friday<\/p>\n One of London\u2019s most iconic landmarks has been closed to visitors due to the extreme red weather warning. <\/p>\n Tourists will no longer be able to visit Tower Bridge on Wednesday or Thursday, with the attraction hoping to reopen on Friday. <\/p>\n Holly Evans24 June 2026 08:13<\/p>\n <\/a>Army cancels ceremonial duties in London <\/p>\n The extreme temperatures have forced the Army to cancel ceremonial operations in London and Windsor, to protect the \u201cwellbeing\u201d of its soldiers.<\/p>\n In a post on X, the Army in London said: \u201cDue to extreme heat this week, Ceremonial Operations in London & Windsor will be changed or cancelled. The wellbeing of our soldiers, horses and the public will always come first.\u201d<\/p>\n Holly Evans24 June 2026 07:51<\/p>\n <\/a>Train lines cancel or run fewer services due to heatwave<\/p>\n Transport bosses have urged people to avoid travelling on Wednesday and Thursday and are warning those that do to \u201cprepare for a disrupted journey\u201d.<\/p>\n National Rail warned of disruption to Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink services until Friday.<\/p>\n Avanti West Coast said it planned to run fewer services than usual between Tuesday and Thursday, and that there was \u201ca risk of further disruption\u201d.<\/p>\n And Chiltern Railways said it had axed more than half its services until Friday \u201cto ensure the safe operation of the railway\u201d.<\/p>\n Eurostar has cancelled four trains planned to run between London and Paris on Wednesday and Thursday \u201cdue to expected adverse weather\u201d.<\/p>\n Holly Evans24 June 2026 07:38<\/p>\n <\/a>Recap: Hundreds of schools to close or shut early amid extreme heatThe UK is braced for record-breaking temperatures, with schools to close and people urged not to travel, as rare red heat weather warnings come into force. Temperatures could hit 40C on Wednesday and Thursday in some parts of England and Wales as a \u201cheat-dome\u201d settling over western Europe has brought extreme conditions across the continent. 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 from 9am on Wednesday to 9pm on Thursday. Red heat health alerts have also been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the East of England, East Midlands, London, the South East, the South West and the West Midlands, and amber heat health alerts for the North East, North West, and Yorkshire and the Humber. These alerts are in place from 1am on Wednesday to 11pm on Thursday, and mean \u201cadverse temperatures are likely to impact on the health and wellbeing of the population\u201d. Find out if your school is affected – read the full list here: <\/p>\n Namita Singh24 June 2026 07:01<\/p>\n <\/a>Watch: Incredible lightning footage from London thunderstorm during June heatwaveIncredible lightning footage from London thunderstorm during June heatwave<\/p>\n Rebecca Whittaker24 June 2026 07:00<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2282411565...jpeg\")
A woman uses a fan to cool herself as she walks through central London in the hot weather (Getty)<\/p>\n![\"Pet](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2222649198...jpeg\")
Pet owners should keep \u2018sensible\u2019 and avoid exposing their dogs to the heat (AFP\/Getty)<\/p>\n![\"Tower](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2276839042...jpeg\")
Tower Bridge is closed to visitors until Friday (AFP\/Getty)<\/p>\n
![\"Sasha](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2282346911...jpeg\")
Sasha (centre) with her daughter Maureen (right) and friend Sammi (left) cool off in the River Darent on 19 June 2026 in Eynsford, United Kingdom (Getty)<\/p>\n