Britain is bracing for a day of travel chaos and school closures as record-breaking temperatures of 40C are expected on Wednesday.Network Rail has advised passengers to only travel if “absolutely necessary” ahead of a rare red weather warning for extreme heat coming into force at 9am.The Met Office alert stretches from London across to Somerset and Swansea, and up towards Birmingham, until 9pm on Thursday.A “heat-dome” settling over western Europe could bring extreme high temperatures in some parts of England and Wales, the forecaster said.Rail companies will run fewer trains and more slowly to keep services safe in the midst of the scorching temperatures.In response to the weather, the government said it held a COBR meeting on Tuesday morning.Hosepipe bans have been enforced in Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire as South East Water manages increased demand due to the heatwave.The heat has also forced hundreds of schools to send children home early, while children at some schools have been told they can wear a PE kit rather than a full school uniform.Will schools close as temperatures hit 38C in the June heatwave?A new wave of scorching temperatures next week is set to bring significant discomfort for millions of school children packed into busy classrooms.Sasha (centre) with her daughter Maureen (right) and friend Sammi (left) cool off in the River Darent on 19 June 2026 in Eynsford, United Kingdom (Getty)Schools across the countries are working on measures to prevent instances of heat exhaustion and fainting, all of which have been reported during heat waves in recent years.The Independent takes a look at the problems facing UK schools and whether they could close as temperatures reach a year-high. Namita Singh24 June 2026 06:25Patients suggested to carry water during hospital tripsNHS trusts across England, including Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Barts Health NHS Trust, have advised people attending appointments during the heatwave to make sure they bring water and check travel beforehand.(AFP/Getty)NHS advice for how to cope during a heatwave includes keeping out of the heat when possible and cooling down with cold food and drinks, and closing windows and blinds during the day to keep the heat out of living spaces. Namita Singh24 June 2026 06:13Residents advised to avoid disposable barbecues amid risk of wildfiresThe London Fire Brigade (LFB) has advised people in the capital to keep safe in the heat over the next few days, and be careful with the risk of wildfires and water incidents.The service urged people to avoid disposable barbecues in parks or open spaces as “they pose a significant fire risk as the heat can be retained for many hours”, and for those having barbecues at home to ensure they are kept “away from flammable materials like fences and sheds”. (Getty)Namita Singh24 June 2026 06:10Recap: Rail firms warn against travel unless strictly necessaryPassengers with Thameslink, Great Northern and Southern are being urged to travel only if absolutely necessary on 24 and 25 June, after the Met Office issued a rare red extreme heat warning across large parts of its network.The operators said:Safety speed restrictions mean reduced service with fewer trains on Wednesday and Thursday on Thameslink, Great Northern and Southern Gatwick Express suspended from early afternoon Wednesday and Thursday – airport still served by Thameslink and Southern trains In line with national travel advice, passengers advised to check before travelling on Tuesday and only travel if absolutely necessary on Wednesday and Thursday Trains will be busier and journeys will take longer Customers should visit the Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern websites for latest travel advice and ticket information before setting off Friday’s travel remains under review Jenny Saunders, customer service director at Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink, said: “I’m sorry for the disruption this is going to cause but with such extreme temperatures forecast, we have to run fewer trains, more slowly to keep services safe.“I’d really urge our customers to think about what’s best for them and to travel only if absolutely necessary on Wednesday and Thursday.“If you do have to catch a train, then consider travelling earlier or later in the day when it is cooler, or delaying your trip to later in the week. Please bring lots of water, wear sunscreen and a hat, and have a backup plan in case of disruption.“And please do check before you travel on one of our websites as the situation could change along with the forecast."Rebecca Whittaker24 June 2026 06:00Train services across England affected due to 'adverse weather'Transport bosses have urged people to avoid travelling on Wednesday and Thursday and warning those that do to “prepare for a disrupted journey”.Avanti West Coast said it planned to run fewer services than usual between Tuesday and Thursday, and that there was “a risk of further disruption”.People walk through the town centre in Huddersfield in northern England on 23 June 2026 (AFP/Getty)And Chiltern Railways said it had axed more than half its services until Friday “to ensure the safe operation of the railway”.Eurostar has cancelled four trains planned to run between London and Paris on Wednesday and Thursday “due to expected adverse weather”. Namita Singh24 June 2026 05:40School announce early closure as UKHSA issues red heat health alertRed heat health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the East of England, East Midlands, London, the South East, the South West and the West Midlands, and amber heat health alerts for the North East, North West, and Yorkshire and The Humber.These alerts are in place from 1am on Wednesday to 11pm on Thursday, and mean “adverse temperatures are likely to impact on the health and well-being of the population”.Extreme temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday are expected to cause problems for parents as schools shut early or close to protect pupils amid the heat.Almost 100 schools in Somerset will be fully closed on Wednesday and Thursday, according to Somerset Council.And around 100 schools will be at least partially closed over the next two days in Buckinghamshire, along with 86 schools in Gloucestershire, according to council data.Children at some schools have been told they can wear PE kit rather than full school uniform, which can involve long trousers and blazers Namita Singh24 June 2026 05:34How does heatwave impact public infrastructure?A combination of extreme heat and humidity could impact public health, infrastructure, power and water supplies, the Met Office said, and cause heat-related issues for a range of sectors such as transport, energy and water supply.There could also be an increase in water safety incidents during the heatwave, the agency said, as more people are likely to visit coastal areas, lakes or rivers.A commuter uses a fan in an attempt to cool down, as they exit a London Underground tube carriage, in London on 23 June 2026 (AFP/Getty)The agency’s spokesperson 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. Namita Singh24 June 2026 05:26UK braced for record breaking heat as rare red weather warnings come into forceThe UK is braced for record-breaking temperatures, with schools to close and people urged not to travel, as rare red heat weather warnings come into force.Temperatures could hit 40C on Wednesday and Thursday in some parts of England and Wales as a “heat-dome” settling over western Europe has brought extreme conditions across the continent.A pedestrian carries drinks in the sunshine in the town centre in Huddersfield in Northern England on 23 June 2026 (AFP/Getty)A red weather warning for extreme heat covering an area stretching from London to Swansea and Somerset to Birmingham was issued by the Met Office from 9am on Wednesday to 9pm on Thursday.During the peak of the heatwave on these two days, the temperature could come close to the UK’s all-time high of 40.3C, which was measured in Lincolnshire in July 2022.The latest heatwave is also expected to surpass the record for June of 35.6C set in Hampshire in 1976. Namita Singh24 June 2026 05:06Rebecca Whittaker24 June 2026 05:00Parents facing impossible as thousands of babies living in overheated homesAlmost 1.6 million children, including more than 70,000 babies, are living in overheated homes in England, according to campaigners, who have called for “urgent action” to ensure housing can be kept at safe temperatures.The National Housing Federation (NHF) warned that with warmer weather becoming more frequent, it is becoming “impossible” for parents to ensure their homes are comfortable.The Climate Change Committee has previously suggested that hotter temperatures could result in 92 per cent of existing homes overheating, with a prediction that by the middle of the century, the UK’s climate “will be much more extreme than today”.Members of the public buy ice creams from an South Kennsington ice cream van in London on 22 June 2026, as temperatures increase to heatwave levels (AFP/Getty)Charities and campaigners have been warning this week of the dangers to vulnerable people, including the elderly and young children, of extreme heat, with people urged to take precautions where they can as temperatures rise into the high 30s.But Kate Henderson, chief executive of the NHF, said it is “now clear that increasingly extreme heatwaves are making it impossible for parents, whatever they do, to make their homes completely safe and comfortable” indicating that steps such as drawing the curtains to keep homes cool are no longer enough.Some 1.59 million children live in homes that get uncomfortably hot, according to NHF and Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) analysis of the 2023 English Housing Survey.Of these, 70,690 are under the age of one. Namita Singh24 June 2026 05:00