"Red Heat Alert Hits UK: Hundreds of Schools Close and Travel Warnings Issued as Temperatures Soar Toward 40°C!"

HUNDREDS of schools have closed and Brits are being urged not to travel as the UK braces for record-breaking 40C highs today.

A red warning is in place across the country while temperatures continue to rise due to a “heat dome” in Europe.

Temperatures continue to rise due to a ‘heat dome’ in Europe Credit: BNPS Sunseekers flocked to beaches and lidos yesterday as temperatures reached as high as 34.6C Credit: EPA The heat will continue to soar over the next two days Credit: EPA A red weather warning is in place across the UK – with an even wider-covering amber alert Credit: MET Office

Sunseekers flocked to beaches and lidos yesterday as temperatures reached as high as 34.6C in Wisley, Surrey.

And the says the will soar even higher today and tomorrow, with a red weather warning issued.

It covers an area from London to Swansea and to , starting at 9am today and ending at 9pm tomorrow.

Temperatures could even reach the highest ever recorded in the , which was 40.3C in Lincolnshire in July 2022.

Brits have been urged not to travel Credit: EPA Brits flocked to parks, like this one in Greenwich, South East London, to make the most of the weather Credit: EPA

An amber weather warning has also been put in place across a wider area in the UK, covering Wales and the majority of England.

The Met Office said: The highlighted area now looks increasingly likely to see a two to three day period where maximum temperatures in the shade exceed 37 Celsius, perhaps rising to 38 to 40 Celsius in some places.

“Significant disruption to daily life is likely and the public should take every effort to make precautions and adapt their daily routines where possible to cope with these levels of heat.”

And a red heat health alert has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), from 1am today until 11pm tomorrow.

Prof Robin May, UKHSA chief scientific officer, said this was only the second time the red heat health warning had been put in place.

As a result, almost 300 across Somerset, Gloucestershire and Buckinghamshire will be fully or partially closed.

And pupils at some schools have been told they can wear PE kit rather than full school uniform.

For Brits heading to work, bosses have urged people to avoid travelling or “prepare for a disrupted journey”.

Holidaymakers could be affected with disruption expected on the Gatwick Express and four trains cancelled.

Great Northern, Southern, Avanti West Coast and Thameslink services will also be disrupted until Friday.

And Chiltern Railways has axed more than half its services until Friday “to ensure the safe operation of the railway”.

Issuing a statement, it said: “We strongly advise you to avoid travelling if possible.

Transport bosses have urged commuters to ‘prepare for a disrupted journey’ Credit: Getty Lidos in the capital were packed out yesterday Credit: EPA

“Trains are running at greatly reduced levels to ensure everyone’s safety.

“Which means you may experience significant delays and very busy conditions.

“To ensure the safe operation of the railway, we will be running fewer than 50 per cent of the number of trains that would typically run.

“Details of the amended train service will be published as soon as plans are complete.”

Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said: “The Met Office is flagging 39C as a headline maximum temperature on Thursday, most likely for somewhere in London or the South East.

“It is possible we could see temperatures higher than the 39C if the final values are at the upper end of our narrow range.

“It is important to remember that the temperature value is only one element of this extreme heatwave story.

“The other major factor is the high humidity which for many will make the intense heat even harder to endure.”

Yesterday, beaches and public pools were rammed with families and sunworshippers soaking up the rays.

Swimmers and surfers dominated the coastline in Newquay, Cornwall, while lidos in the capital were packed out.