UK SCHOOLS SEND STUDENTS HOME EARLY AS EXTREME HEAT WARNING ISSUED

Several schools across the UK are releasing students early this week in response to an extreme heatwave. The Met Office has issued a rare red weather warning for extreme heat covering an area stretching from London to Somerset, Swansea and Birmingham, which comes into force at 9am on Wednesday and lifts at 9pm on Thursday. The warning carries a "risk to life for even the healthy population", according to the Met Office. Temperatures are forecast to reach 40C on Wednesday, with the sweltering conditions expected to persist until at least Thursday.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued red heat health alerts for the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East and South West. The Met Office expects the record for the hottest June temperature to be broken during this period. The Automobile Association has cautioned that the extreme heat could place additional strain on vehicles, and stated that gritters may be deployed on roads as temperatures rise. A yellow weather warning for thunderstorms has also been issued by the Met Office for the south of England, with storms forecast for Monday evening.

The widespread heat warning reflects the severity of conditions anticipated across much of England and Wales. Schools' decisions to close early or adjust schedules form part of broader preparations for the extreme weather. The Met Office has indicated that significant disruption to daily life is expected across the affected regions during the warning period.