Experts have issued a strong warning that lives are at stake, before forecasters predict temperatures could rise to 40°C in the coming days.
Health leaders fear the NHS will be overwhelmed by the number of heat-related casualties as temperatures reach predicted highs.
Meanwhile, schools are preparing to close early as temperatures reach levels normally only seen in California’s Death Valley, one of the world’s most extreme environments.
Tuesday is likely to be the hottest day, with the potential to surpass Britain’s record 38.7C (101.7F) temperature in Cambridge in 2019, forecasters say.
The Met Office issued an ‘amber’ warning of extreme heat for much of England and Wales from Sunday to Tuesday.
The warning says the weather could cause health problems for the entire population, not just those vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to potentially serious illness or death.
A number of schools are taking measures to keep children safe, including canceling sports days and closing early.
The Hereford Academy in Herefordshire has announced an earlier start and finish to the school day to try to beat the worst of the heat.
A post on his Facebook page read: “Due to the high temperatures that will hit next week, we will have a rather abbreviated format for our final four days: finish earlier but start earlier, so the hottest part of the day will be gone.” ‘
Elsewhere in the same county, a letter to parents of children in Marlbrook, Little Dewchurch and St Partin’s Primary School warned that gym classes will be canceled and students will not be allowed to play outside.
It added: “We also give parents the option to keep children at home on Mondays.”
Meanwhile, the Crestwood Community School in Eastleigh, Hampshire, said it was canceling its sports day because “we don’t think it’s safe for students to be out in the heat all day and participate in physical activity.”
In London, the head teacher of the Clapton Girls’ Academy warned of an early finish to help students cope with rising temperatures.
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