THE heatwave will put ‘lives at risk’ as temperature records are expected to tumble with widespread travel disruption predicted and potential school closures.
The Met Office announced four days of extreme heat warnings from Monday, with a rare red warning due to come into force on Wednesday and Thursday.
The UK Health Security Agency also issued a red heat health alert – indicating a significant risk to life even for the healthy population.
Rare ‘red’ extreme heat warning issued by Met Office
The temperature record for June is expected to fall as the red heat warning comes into force in Worcestershire and Herefordshire from 9am on Wednesday until 9pm on Thursday.
Temperatures are expected to reach up to 40C, posing a risk of serious illness or danger to life, not just for vulnerable individuals but for the wider public.
⚠️⚠️🔴 Red weather warning issued 🔴⚠️⚠️
Extreme heat across parts of central/southern England and Wales
Wednesday 0900 – Thursday 2100
Latest info 👉 https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs”>https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs
Stay https://x.com/hashtag/WeatherAware?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#WeatherAware ⚠️ https://t.co/IwXnyU1E7y”>pic.twitter.com/IwXnyU1E7y
— Met Office (@metoffice) https://x.com/metoffice/status/2068990866559995943?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>June 22, 2026
People have been urged to limit physical activity to mornings and evenings, drink plenty of fluids, limit alcohol intake and stay out of direct sunlight between 11am and 3pm.
Some schools have already announced partial closures because of the heat, including Fort Royal Community Primary School in Worcester which will close at 1pm tomorrow (Tuesday) for ‘health and safety reasons due to extreme heat on site and on some school transport vehicles’.
The extreme heat is expected to cause widespread disruption across road, air and rail networks.
Travel disruption on the railways during heatwave
Great Western Railway (GWR) has advised passengers to only travel if absolutely necessary on Wednesday and Thursday.
Daryn McCombe, GWR and Network Rail performance director, said: “We want to keep our customers safe during this period of extreme heat, which is why we are taking the precautionary step of amending services at the hottest times of day.
“We know this is disruptive and we’re sorry for the inconvenience it will cause, but customer safety must come first.
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“We’d encourage everyone planning to travel on Wednesday and Thursday to travel earlier in the week or later, allow extra time and bring water with them.”
Extreme heat can cause rails to expand and buckle, requiring trains to run more slowly. This can lead to fewer services, longer journey times, and potential delays or cancellations.
Older trains may also be affected by heat-related equipment failures, including engine and cooling system issues.
To help travellers, GWR is relaxing ticket restrictions for Wednesday and Thursday.
Passengers are advised to check their journey ahead of time, allow extra time to travel, and carry water, especially if waiting on platforms or travelling during the hottest periods.
Changes to bin collections in Worcester
Changes are also being made to bin collections in response to the expected temperatures.
In Worcester, crews will begin work an hour earlier between Tuesday and Friday to avoid the hottest parts of the day.
Residents are being asked to put their bins out by 6am throughout the week.
Meanwhile, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) is advising dog owners to stick to early morning and late evening walks for dogs and avoid exercising them in the hottest parts of the day to prevent potentially fatal heat-related illnesses.
Each summer, vets across the country report seeing large numbers of cases involving dogs who require treatment for heatstroke, burnt paw pads, sunburn and breathing difficulties, with some dogs sadly unable to be saved as a result.
