The orange warning comes as extremely hot temperatures in Spain and France are expected to push north into the UK this week. Temperatures reached 43 degrees in central Spain on Monday and are forecast to rise further. Met Office forecasters said some models predicted highs of more than 40C in parts of the UK over the weekend and beyond, but these were “low chances”. Temperatures in the mid or high 30s are “more likely,” they said. The hottest temperature on record in the UK was 38.7 degrees Celsius at Cambridge Botanic Gardens in July 2019. Rising heat next week could disrupt schools if temperatures get too hot in classrooms. A National Education Association safety briefing says “closing classrooms that are unacceptably hot and teaching classes elsewhere” could be considered “or even sending students home.” The heat also threatens increased disruption to the railways. Network Rail said it could introduce temporary speed restrictions in the hottest hours to keep trains running and mitigate the effects of rails expanding in the heat, which can cause buckling. The prime minister’s official spokesman said on Tuesday that planning was taking place within the NHS and with local councils as well as across transport networks. “Officials met to discuss and coordinate the response,” he said. “We continue to monitor the effects of the heat wave. Important work is being done across government to ensure that those most vulnerable to high temperatures are looked after and given the necessary advice.” On Tuesday morning households in Swindon reported smoke billowing from a large fire on Salisbury Plain, likely sparked by military exercises. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue advised residents to close their windows. The fire, which started on Monday, was fought by the military as it was on military training ground and was not safe for civilian firefighters due to the risk of unexploded ordnance. “We are monitoring a number of fires on the Salisbury Plain training area and can confirm there is no danger to the public at this time,” a Foreign Office spokesman said, adding that civilian firefighters were ready to help if the fire spread. Fire officials are urging the public to reduce the risk of wildfires in dry undergrowth by not throwing away cigarette butts or throwing glass bottles that can magnify the sun’s rays. The UK’s Health Safety Authority has issued level 3 health warnings for the heat for the east and south-east of England, with the rest of the nation on a level 2 alert. Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, said: “If you have vulnerable family, friends and neighbors, make sure they know how they can protect themselves from the hot weather.” Level 3 includes issuing calm media alerts, supporting organizations to reduce unnecessary travel, reviewing public event security, and mobilizing community and volunteer support. The next step, level 4, is described as a national emergency that requires a multi-agency response and is declared “in the event of a severe or prolonged heat wave affecting areas other than health”. Downing Street did not rule that out as a possibility on Tuesday. Age UK, an older people’s charity, recommends keeping blinds down and windows closed when it’s hotter outside than inside, using a wet cloth around the neck to keep cool and drinking plenty of water and eat even if you are not hungry. “We know that extreme heat can make lung and heart conditions worse, so our advice is to take care and if you’re short of breath, even after you’ve rested, seek medical advice,” said Caroline Abrahams, director of charity Age UK. “The symptoms of heat exhaustion can be similar to Covid-19 and include high temperature, excessive sweating and pale, clammy skin and headaches. If you experience any of these symptoms, go somewhere cool, hydrate and cool your skin with water, fans or cold packs.”
