Exceptional heat is possible for southern and central parts of the UK late this weekend and early next week, with temperatures likely to rise above 35C in places. Children could also be kept at home and banned from playing outside, as schools said they struggled to concentrate in the heat.
Parents of children from three primary schools in Herefordshire have been told that pupils are “not allowed to play outside” and that there will be no PE classes.
A letter to parents from Marlbrook, Little Dewchurch and St Martin’s Primary School reads: “We are also giving parents the option to keep children at home on Mondays.”
Meanwhile, Hereford Academy is changing the class schedule, starting the day at 8.30am and sending students home at 2pm.
Clapton Girls’ Academy, in East London, sends children home at 12:30 pm on Mondays and Tuesdays.
In a letter to the parents, Anna Feltham, the head teacher, wrote: “In many classrooms it is already very hot, even with fans, and students struggle to keep cool, drink enough water and maintain their concentration in class. “
The rooms would be “unbearably hot” by the end of the day next week, and there weren’t enough “cool” rooms to move classes to, she said.
The Met Office has issued an orange warning for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday that “may be life-threatening”.
Temperatures could break the current national record of 38.7C set in 2019.
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Temperatures will also remain high overnight, especially in urban areas, with a high probability of tropical nights – when minimums don’t drop below 20C – for some early next week.
A Level 3 UK Health Security Agency Heat Health Alert, which specifically targets people in the health and social care sector, has also been issued from Saturday to Tuesday, advising people to watch out for vulnerable people and those with underlying health conditions.
The criteria for heat waves, which require exceeding certain temperature thresholds for three consecutive days, were already met in some locations earlier this week and are expected to be reached again early next week.
This is most likely in England and Wales, but also fairly likely for eastern Scotland.
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Meteorologist Tony Wardle, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “Maximum temperatures are well above average almost everywhere in the UK this week, with the exception perhaps of the western and northern islands of Scotland.
“After a return to more average, locally cool temperatures in the coming days, it looks like the warm weather will increase steadily this weekend, peaking early next week.
“From Sunday, but more likely Monday and Tuesday, maximum temperatures are likely to exceed 35C, particularly in central, southern and eastern England, with a chance of some locations getting even hotter.
“Otherwise, the maxima will generally range from high 20s to low 30s Celsius.
“This, coupled with nighttime minima not falling below 20C in many locations, has significant potential to have widespread societal impact, prompting the issuance of an Amber Extreme heat warning.”
Health Minister Maria Caulfield told the House of Commons on Wednesday that the government had arranged additional ambulance capacity to help emergency services meet increased demand.
She said the £30 million contract would “support ambulance response during periods of increased pressure”.