(Adnkronos) – Schools closed and recommendations for the population to avoid travel in much of Great Britain due to red-level weather alerts for heat. Today and tomorrow, temperatures could reach 40° in some areas of England and Wales, due to a “heat dome” moving across Western Europe and bringing extreme conditions across the continent. During the peak of the heatwave over these two days, the temperature could approach the UK’s all-time record of 40.3°, measured in Lincolnshire in July 2022.
The latest heatwave is also expected to surpass the June record of 35.6° set in Hampshire in 1976. Over 850 schools in England and Wales have informed parents that they will remain completely closed or end classes early, and in some institutions, pupils may wear tracksuits instead of full school uniforms. Rail services from Great Northern, Southern, Avanti West Coast, and Thameslink will experience disruptions until Friday, and Eurostar and Gatwick Express operators warn of possible delays.
Chiltern Railways has cancelled more than half of its services until Friday “to ensure line safety.” The army has also cancelled ceremonial operations, including the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, in London and Windsor, to “protect the welfare of its soldiers.” Avanti West Coast was the railway company that experienced the most disruptions this morning, with four out of five services cancelled and delays of over 30 minutes. Chiltern Railways announced that it will operate less than half of its usual services until Friday “to ensure line safety.” Rail services to and from London Marylebone airport are affected, with connections to Birmingham, Oxford, and Aylesbury via Amersham. Great Western Railway has appealed for its services to be used only for “essential travel.”
