Multiple schools in England were shutting early Tuesday and set to remain closed for two more days, with a heatwave expected to set new records in the UK as it spreads across Europe.
The UK’s meteorological office issued an extremely rare red heat warning — only issued once before — for Wednesday and Thursday, as temperatures could soar to 40 °C, unprecedented for the time of the year.
The red “extreme heat” warning extends to parts of central and south England, including London and Birmingham, the UK’s two biggest cities.
The Met Office also forecast that the June temperature record—35.6 °C, set in 1976—could be broken on Tuesday, with the mercury expected to rise to 37C in southern England.
“To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering,” said Met Office chief scientist Stephen Belcher.
