More than 1,000 schools in England and Wales are shut or closing early as temperatures soar across the UK
Southern England is forecast to see highs of around 37C today - but, as BBC Weather explains, the "feels like" temperature could be even higher
A red warning for extreme heat has come into force in parts of England and Wales, lasting until 21:00 tomorrow - see which regions are covered
It's the Met Office's most severe level of alert and means there could be a risk to life as well as transport delays
Rail passengers are being warned to avoid non-essential travel, with an amber warning for heat already in place for much of the rest of England and Wales
On Tuesday, Scotland and Northern Ireland recorded their hottest days of the year so far
Fans, loose clothing, lots of water - follow these tips to stay cool
Matt Taylor
BBC Weather
Jersey experienced as hottest June day on record on Tuesday.
The Jersey Met Service reported a high of 37.2C (99F) - smashing the previous record of 33.4C, which was only set last year, by a huge margin.
It was also their second warmest day on record.
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers / HediSt Aubin in Jersey earlier today
It was a notably warm start this morning, although it hasn't deterred some from getting out and about.
Here are some pictures taken by BBC Weather Watchers from across the UK.
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers / Hayley85Beach huts basking in the sun in Pakefield, Suffolk
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers / SteveBoats line the water in Ramsgate, Kent
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers / Philbert NutClear skies and long walks in Pilton, Somerset
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers / KryzstofEarly morning fog settles across the coast in Aberystwyth
Water safety experts have shared some simple tips with BBC News on staying safe when swimming in open water. Here’s what they told us:
Choose a spot with a lifeguard: The best place to swim is somewhere supervised. You can find a list of UK beaches with lifeguards on the RNLI website, external, external.
Watch videos of rip currents: A rip current can quickly pull you away from shore and out of your depth. They can be difficult to spot, RNLI says, but watching videos can help you identify them.
Think about your swimming ability: Swimming in the sea, lakes and rivers is very different from a swimming pool, so people should think carefully before getting in.
Keep someone on shore: Someone from your group should always stay on shore to keep an eye on those in the water and can call for help if needed.
Avoid inflatables: If the wind changes when you’re in an inflatable, you can be blown out to sea. It’s advised to avoid them altogether.
Get in the water slowly: Getting into cold water too quickly can cause cold water shock, which restricts your ability to move and affects your breathing. You should get in slowly and allow your body to acclimatise.
Image source, PA MediaMore than 500 schools in Wales have been closed or partially closed as a result of the high temperatures.
Closures are impacting schools across mid and south Wales - including all in Blaenau Gwent, and most in Caerphilly and Bridgend.
Others have been confirmed in Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen and Vale of the Glamorgan.
That's on top of at least 578 full or partial closures in England - the vast majority of them in the south of the country.
Ben Rich
Lead Weather Presenter
Yesterday’s highest temperature was 34.6C at Wisley in Surrey – but today is likely to be even hotter.
Strong sunshine will lift temperatures well into the 30s Celsius with highs of 37C likely – with the hottest place likely to be somewhere to the south-west of London or in central-southern England, within the area covered by the red extreme heat warning from the Met Office.
It is likely that the UK’s June temperature record, currently 35.6C, will be broken.
Temperatures of 30-34C are expected across large swathes of south-west England, east Wales, the Midlands and Northern England.
High humidity will make it feel particularly hot when combined with the strong sunshine.
Scotland and Northern Ireland had their hottest day of the year so far yesterday, but today is likely to be cooler with temperatures peaking in the low to mid-20s.
Image source, EPAOn Thursday, we’ll be running a live Q&A with correspondents and experts from BBC teams including climate and science, health, learning and identity, business and weather.
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Hazel Shearing
Education correspondent
There's no official data to show how many schools are closing because of the heat, so we've been looking through council and school websites to try to get an idea.
So far we've counted at least 578 full or partial closures - the vast majority of them in the south of England.
The total number is likely to be much higher, though, because many councils do not publish lists of schools which have to close unexpectedly due to extreme weather.
Lots of schools are also part of multi-academy trusts, which may not appear on council lists if they're closed.
The disruption comes just after the end of timetabled GCSE, A-level and other exams.
Weather warnings are given a colour – yellow, amber or red - depending on a combination of two things; the impact the weather is likely to have and the likelihood of it happening.
A matrix system is used to help decide on the severity of the warnings, which then helps decide the colour.
Yellow is the lowest tier of warning, amber is a middle-tier warning and red is the most serious type of warning possible. The warning is determined by what best matches the impact of the weather against the likelihood of it happening.
Eight different types of weather are covered: rain, snow, wind, thunderstorms, lightning, fog, ice, and extreme heat.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Met Office's red warning for extreme heat has just come into effect, meaning an "exceptional spell" of hot and humid weather can be expected across the affected region.
This is only the second time a red warning has been issued since extreme heat warnings began in 2021.
Among the areas included are the East Midlands, East of England, London & South East England, South West England, Wales and the West Midlands.
The Met Office says to expect population-wide impacts, affecting not just those who are most vulnerable to extreme heat, including serious illness or danger to life.
The service says "substantial changes" in working practices and daily routines will be required, while there is also a high risk of heat-sensitive systems and equipment failing.
This could result in power cuts and the loss of other essential services such as water, electricity, gas or mobile phone signal.
Furthermore, delays on roads and road closures are expected alongside delays and cancellations to rail and air travel. Those who experience even moderate delays on such services are at risk of significant welfare issues.
There is also an increased risk of water safety incidents, due to significantly more people visiting coastal areas, lakes and rivers.
A rare red weather warning has just come into effect and will remain in place until 21:00 BST on Thursday.
It covers parts of southern England, as well as the Midlands and south Wales, with people in those areas warned there is a risk ofserious illness or danger to life.
Marthe de Ferrer
Senior journalist
For parents with young babies, keeping them cool can be a major concern - especially as infants cannot regulate their body temperature properly until they are nearer nine to 12-months-old.
The NHS advises that babies be kept out of direct sunlight, but says to avoid covering prams with a blanket, as this can reduce airflow and lead to overheating.
When it comes to sleep, it’s recommended to keep babies’ rooms at 16-20C - which can be impossible during a heatwave.
Safer sleep charity The Lullaby Trust suggests placing a fan pointing away from the baby while they sleep, to help cool the room and using a room thermometer so you have an accurate idea of temperature.
The Lullaby Trust says to use lighter, or even no bedding at night to keep babies safer while sleeping in hot conditions.
Chris Partridge
Reporting from Newbury
Image source, BBC/Chris PartridgeTrain services seem to be running normally on GWR through Newbury into London Paddington right now. Fewer people than usual are at the station, with many heeding the advice not to travel.
Carriages are quieter too, indicating fewer passengers boarding further back along the line.
This is a busy commuter route into London, and many of the trains are electric with air conditioning as standard.
Temperatures could reach up to 36 or 37C today - but that's only part of the story.
The "feels like" temperature is likely to be much hotter, reaching into the 40s in parts of England.
BBC Weather presenter Matt Taylor explains why that is and how it might lead to an uncomfortable day for some.
UK heat: Feels like temperature to reach above 40C
Pet owners have been advised not to take their dogs out for walks during the red extreme heat warning.
Lauren Bennett from the RSPCA tells BBC Breakfast that while dogs should still be brought outside briefly to go to the toilet, it's about "being sensible" and keeping to shaded areas while minimising high impact exercise.
She says: "Certainly, with this red weather warning, actually we would advise probably not to walk your dogs at all because there isn't actually a cooler time of day."
She says dogs could be taken out very early in the morning or very late at night, as well as being given plenty of water and keeping cool in homes through air conditioning and fans.
She adds: "Just like people, it can be fatal, which is why we tell people to change their behaviour because our pets are completely under our control so the responsibility is on us."
Image source, EPATemperatures on Tuesday peaked at 34.6C in Wisley, Surrey, while highs of 32.2C were reached in Wales.
Ahead of the red warning coming in to force later this morning in some parts, here are some pictures showing how people coped with the heat yesterday:
Image source, Getty ImagesTourists could be seen struggling in central London over Tuesday afternoon
Image source, Getty ImagesA man in Huddersfield sits in the afternoon heat
Image source, EPA/ShutterstockSwimmers at London Fields Lido cool off on Tuesday
Image source, ReutersPeople have been spotted using umbrellas as an attempt to shield themselves from the sun
Katy Austin
Transport correspondent
Rail passengers in England and Wales are being advised to only travel if absolutely necessary today and Thursday.
Lots of train operators have asked that people only make essential journeys, and have put in place reduced timetables: South Western Railway, Thameslink, Northern and Avanti West Coast to name just a few.
Gatwick Express won’t run on Wednesday or Thursday afternoons, and LNER “strongly recommends” its customers don’t travel.
Running fewer trains puts less stress on the railway infrastructure. The idea is also to minimise the number of people caught up in any disruption, and create breathing space in the timetable so any delays cause less of a knock-on impact.
If you decide not to travel and already have a ticket, you’re probably able to use it another day or get a refund. Check with your operator.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesThe short answer is... very hot.
Scotland and Northern Ireland recorded their hottest days of the year so far, and while it was still a scorcher in England, overnight storms meant the temperature wasn’t as hot as predicted.
The maximum temperatures on Tuesday across the UK were:
The rare red weather warning affects London, parts of the Midlands, south-east Wales and southern England, and will be in place from 09:00 BST on Wednesday through to 21:00 BST on Thursday.
The Met Office says there is a risk of serious illness or danger to life in those impacted areas.
Loss of power and essential services like water are also likely, due to a greater risk of failure of heat-sensitive systems and equipment.
The Met Office also warns of delays on roads, trains and plains.
Temperatures are forecast to rise in to the high 30s, in southern England, and a maximum of 39C on Wednesday is not out of the question.
Less severe amber weather warnings are also in place across much of southern and central England and most of Wales until the end of Thursday.
Image source, Getty ImagesIt's predicted to be an exceptionally hot day across the UK, with the Met Office's red weather warning for extreme heat for parts of England and Wales due to kick in at 09:00.
This means the heat is likely to bring impacts to health and could be a danger to life, but also a risk to infrastructure such as power supplies and transport.
The warning covers parts of central and southern England, and parts of south Wales, lasting until 21:00 on Thursday.
The red warning is an upgrade in severity from yesterday's amber warning for extreme heat, which also covered parts of England and Wales. Those in Wisley, Surrey were feeling the heat the most, where it reached 34.6C.
Expect delays on roads, tracks and in the air, the Met Office has warned.
We'll be covering the ongoing impact of the heat throughout the day, as well as sharing some tips for dealing with the weather.
