The south of England was battered by dramatic thunderstorms on Monday night as the UK braces for what could be a record-breaking spell of heat.
London Fire Brigade said it had responded to around 400 calls overnight, including two house fires believed to be caused by lightning strikes and flooding of homes.
Now, a “heat-dome” settling over western Europe could bring temperatures of up to 40C in some parts of England and Wales in the middle part of the week, the Met Office has said.
Temperatures for the latest heatwave are likely to overtake the June record set in Hampshire in 1976 by several degrees and could come close to the UK’s all-time high of 40.3C which was measured in July 2022.
Sweltering heat is expected until at least Thursday and a Met Office red weather warning, which stretches from London across to Somerset and Swansea and up towards Birmingham, comes into force at 9am on Wednesday and will be lifted at 9pm on Thursday.
An amber warning for extreme heat is in force for the South of England and Midlands until midnight tonight.
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Read MoreTwo young children found dead in family car as 40C heatwave sweeps across France
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Key Points
- Dramatic thunderstorms in London overnight
- 40C in June must be wake-up call on climate crisis, scientists warn
- Where is the Red Heat-Health Alert ?
- TfL warns tubes and trains may be disrupted in the heat
- Multiple weather records to be smashed in England and Wales
Weather causing travel chaos for London's commuters
09:28 , Dan HaygarthThere is severe disruption across London’s transport network on Tuesday, in part caused by the extreme weather.
On the Elizabeth Line, heavy rain has caused flooding which means there is no service between Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3 and Heathrow Terminal 4, Transport for London said.
Meanwhile, there are severe delays between Paddington and Heathrow Terminal 5 and Reading due to an earlier points failure at Southall.
There are also severe delays on the Mildmay Line, which is running a reduced service because of the hot weather.
The Metropolitan Line remains partly suspended between Baker Street and Aldgate, while the Hammersmith and City Line is also suspended between Barking and Moorgate. The entire Circle Line has been suspended, as have parts of the District Line.
29,000 lightning strikes in last 24 hours
09:27 , Dan Haygarth
The Met Office said 29,074 lightning strikes have been recorded in the UK in the last 24 hours to 9am on Tuesday.
All of these strikes were over England, with the majority – 18,540 – over Somerset.
The Met Office’s lightning map also shows there have been hundreds more strikes across south-east England on Tuesday morning.
The highest overnight temperature was 20.4C in Gosport, Hampshire, while eight other place recorded a tropical night where temperatures do not fall below 20C.
These were Crosby, in Merseyside, Plymouth and North Wyke, in Devon, Aberporth, Cardiff and St Athan in Wales, Hurn in Dorset and the Isle of Wight.
UK heatwave mapped: Where is going to be hottest this week as temperatures could hit 40C
09:05 , Dan Haygarth
UK heatwave mapped: Where is going to be hottest as temperatures could hit 40C
Lightning strike causes house fire in Bristol outskirts
08:48 , Dan HaygarthThe temperature records that could be broken in the UK this week
08:39 , Daniel Haygarth35.1C
The highest temperature so far this year, measured at Kew Gardens in London on 26 May.
It also set a new record for the highest May temperature since comparable Met Office data began in 1884.
35.6C
The highest June temperature on record.
It was set on 29 June 1957 at Camden Square in London, then equalled on 28 June 1976 at Mayflower Park in Southampton.
35.8C
The highest temperature recorded in the UK last year.
It was reached on 1 July 2025 at Faversham in Kent.
40C
A temperature threshold that has been passed only once since Met Office records began, on 19 July 2022.
Five Met Office weather stations measured temperatures above 40C on this date, three in London (Heathrow, Kew Gardens and Northolt), one in Lincolnshire (Coningsby) and one in Nottinghamshire (Gringley on the Hill).
40.3C
The highest temperature ever recorded in the UK.
The figure was reached on 19 July 2022 at Coningsby in Lincolnshire.
Thundery showers continue in parts of the southeast
08:20 , Dan HaygarthHeavy, thundery showers continue in parts of the southeast ⛈️
— Met Office (@metoffice) June 23, 2026
Here is a radar update 👇 pic.twitter.com/JINqSt41qu
Two house fires in London believed to be caused by lightning strikes and flooding of homes
08:03 , Dan HaygarthLondon Fire Brigade (LFB) said it had responded to around 400 calls overnight, including two house fires believed to be caused by lightning strikes and flooding of homes.
Thunderstorms following soaring temperatures caused flash flooding in the capital, the LFB said as it urged drivers not to drive through flooded areas.
Assistant commissioner Pat Goulbourne said: “It has been a very busy night for our control officers, firefighters and officers. Shortly after 4am, due to a large number of calls received by the brigade, we implemented our high-volume call procedure which means flooding calls where there is a risk to life are prioritised and crews then attend other calls as non-emergencies when they can.
“Operation Willow Beck was also temporarily stood up. Introduced in 2022 nationally by the Home Office and National Chiefs Fire Council, this is a pre-determined 999 call distribution procedure, which during times of extreme demand, can divert surplus emergency calls to unaffected fire and rescue service control rooms. I’d like to thank all of those colleagues in other fire rescue services who assisted us overnight, as well as our own staff for their hard work and professionalism during this busy period.
“Whilst the worst of the rain now seems to have passed, we continue to work through outstanding calls as well as receive new incidents as Londoners wake to see some of the damage caused by the storms overnight.
“We’d like to reassure Londoners that crews are available to respond to emergencies so please call 999 if you have to.”
Dramatic storms in London overnight
07:47 , Dan HaygarthA prolonged spell of thunder and lightning hit the capital overnight.
It’s 3.45am in London and it’s been thunderstorming for almost two straight hours.
— Adam Schwarz (@AdamJSchwarz) June 23, 2026
One of the biggest and longest storms I can remember in my almost 35 years in this city. pic.twitter.com/3YQKiAVu57
Separately, the Met Office said residents in the West Country were battered by thunderstorms on Monday evening, with temperatures dropping four to five degrees across the region.
Hundreds of homes in Shepton Mallet, Glastonbury and Bristol were briefly without power due to the weather, according to the National Grid, while Bristol Airport was forced to close because of “a fault with Air Traffic Control systems”, with passengers advised to contact their airlines.
Avon Fire and Rescue Service said a lightning strike was believed to be the cause of a house fire in Emersons Green, Bristol, on Monday evening.
A spokesman for the service said crews were alerted to the blaze at 5.55pm and the fire was under control by 10pm.
No injuries were reported from the fire, but in an unrelated incident one person was injured near the scene and passed to ambulance crews.
Schools set to close amid impending rare red warnings for extreme heat
07:35 , Dan Haygarth
Schools across the country are closing and transport bosses have warned people against all but essential travel amid rare red warnings over extreme temperatures that are expected to hit record highs for June.
A “heat-dome” settling over western Europe could bring temperatures of up to 40C in some parts of England and Wales in the middle part of the week, the Met Office has said.
Temperatures for the latest heatwave are likely to overtake the June record set in Hampshire in 1976 by several degrees and could come close to the UK’s all-time high of 40.3C which was measured in July 2022.
The hot conditions, which have been very rare in the UK until now, will be accompanied by high humidity and very warm nights, which will make it hard for people to recover overnight, the forecaster warned.
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.
These are reserved for the most severe events, the Met Office said, meaning this heatwave is expected to bring “severe and significant impacts” including widespread health risks for many, not just those who are normally more vulnerable to the heat, and even danger to life.
Scores of schools across England and Wales announced they would close or finish early on several days this week to protect pupils amid the extreme heat.
Watch: Met Office issues red weather warning in parts of England and Wales
07:30 , Dan HaygarthRecap: Multiple weather records to be smashed in England and Wales
07:00 , Rebecca WhittakerThe current highest temperature on record for June will very likely be broken this week, with 40C forecast in London on Wednesday.
The hottest June day ever currently sits at 35.6C, which was recorded in Southampton in June 1976 and Camden Square in June 1957.
Wales June temperature record of 33.7C, which was set in 2000, is also likely to be broken, the Met Office said.
The June record for Scotland stands at 32.2C and for Northern Ireland it’s 30.8C.
While these are less likely to be broken, the Met Office is still expecting daytime temperatures in the high twenties or low thirties.
The UK will almost definitely experience its hottest day of the year, with temperatures forecast to rise above the 34.8C recorded last month.
If temperatures exceed 40.3C, it could also be the hottest day ever recorded in the UK.
Restrictions on rail speed amid heatwave
06:58 , Namita SinghTransport for London (TfL) warned customers of possible disruption to rail and Tube services, saying rail temperatures could lead to temporary speed restrictions and reduced services.
Claire Mann, TfL’s chief operating officer, said: “Customers should be aware that, given the very high temperatures that are forecast, we are likely to see some disruption to rail and Tube services – with rail temperatures likely to lead to temporary speed restrictions and therefore reduced services in some cases.
“This will vary by line, with some services that share parts of the overground rail network – like the Overground and the Elizabeth line – likely to be more affected.”
She added: “We expect bus services to run as normal although, during periods of hot weather, we are encouraging customers to carry water with them when they travel on any of our services.”
The AA said drivers could also see gritters out on some roads this week with the potential for surfaces to soften or become sticky under the heat, with heavy traffic even causing them to rut in some places.
Drivers urged to postpone journeys as record heatwave threatens to melt roads
06:56 , Namita SinghMotorists whose vehicles lack efficient air conditioning are being advised to postpone non-essential travel during the current heatwave.
The RAC, which issued the urgent plea, also urged drivers to exercise "patience" as record demand is expected to lead to extended wait times for breakdown assistance.
This advice follows the Met Office's red weather warning for extreme heat, in effect for Wednesday and Thursday.
Report:
Drivers urged to postpone journeys as record heatwave threatens to melt roads
Network Rail passengers advised to travel only if ‘absolutely essential’
06:55 , Namita SinghAmid the record temperatures, advice has also been issued for transport users, with Network Rail warning passengers should “only travel if absolutely essential on Wednesday and Thursday”.
Jake Kelly, deputy chief executive of Network Rail, said: “Extreme heat can have a significant impact on the railway, so safety must come first.
“We’re asking passengers to check before travelling on Tuesday, and only travel if absolutely essential on Wednesday and Thursday if they are going to, from or within the red warning zone as temperatures are expected to peak.
“If you do need to travel in this area or outside of it where it will still be hot, please plan ahead, allow extra time and take necessary precautions, such as carrying water, to stay safe. We thank passengers for their patience and understanding during this period.”
Schools shut, all trips and activities cancelled as buildings 'cannot be cooled adequately'
06:36 , Namita SinghScores of schools across England and Wales announced they would close or finish early later this week to protect pupils amid the extreme heat.
The Buckingham School in Buckinghamshire said it will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday, and asked students to take part in online learning.
In a statement on its website on Monday, the school said: “Because most of our buildings cannot be cooled adequately and there is little shade outside, we have taken the difficult decision to close the school site on both days (Wednesday and Thursday).
“All trips and other scheduled activities are also cancelled.”
The school, which has around 1,200 students until sixth form, said teachers will upload work online for pupils to complete.
St John’s Marlborough in Wiltshire said it will close early on Tuesday and be shut all day on Wednesday and Thursday before re-opening on Friday.
The Dorcan Academy in Swindon, Wiltshire, said on-site learning will finish at 11.30am on Tuesday and the school will remain closed on Wednesday and Thursday.
Other schools in Sutton in south London and Haringey in north London have also been forced to close from Tuesday to Thursday.
Some schools will remain open this week but close at about lunchtime on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, including Pewsey Vale School, Dilton Marsh Primary and Malmesbury School in Wiltshire, Ditton Park Academy in Slough, Berkshire, The Bulmershe School in Reading, Berkshire, Cheam High School in Surrey and Sydenham School in London.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Head Teachers (Naht) said it has written to all its members with guidance on dealing with the heat this week, including the impact on pupils and staff, legal positions and when to consider closure.
Paul Whiteman, Naht general secretary, said: “While there is no legal ‘upper limit’ for temperature in schools, (school leaders) will certainly be doing all they can to mitigate the effects of such high temperatures.”
Dozens of schools forced to close amid rare red warnings
06:32 , Namita SinghDozens of schools have been forced to close and transport bosses have warned people against all but essential travel amid rare red warnings over extreme temperatures that are expected to hit record highs for June.
A “heat-dome” settling over western Europe could bring temperatures of up to 40C in some parts of England and Wales in the middle part of the week, the Met Office has said.
Temperatures for the latest heatwave are likely to overtake the June record set in Hampshire in 1976 by several degrees and could come close to the UK’s all-time high of 40.3C which was measured in July 2022.
The hot conditions, which have been very rare in the UK until now, will be accompanied by high humidity and very warm nights, which will make it hard for people to recover overnight, the forecaster warned.
Two young children found dead in family car as 40C heatwave sweeps across France
06:00 , Rebecca WhittakerTwo young children have been found dead inside a car in a residential car park in France, prosecutors have said, as a 40C heatwave sweeps across the country.
The children, aged two and four, were found by firefighters in cardiac arrest inside their mother’s car after a call at around 1.20pm local time on Monday afternoon.
Despite attempts to resuscitate the children, they both died. According to Le Parisien, the children are believed to have entered the vehicle without their 33-year-old mother’s knowledge before becoming trapped inside.
Read more here:
Two young children found dead in family car as 40C heatwave sweeps across France
Recap: What is a red weather warning and what should Britons expect?
05:00 , Rebecca WhittakerA red warning is the most extreme weather alert that is only issued when significant impacts are expected.
The Met Office said the heat, which could reach 40C, will bring high humidity, exacerbating the potential for discomfort and health impacts, with very warm and humid night times also reducing the ability for people to recover overnight.
“During the heatwave expected to affect a large part of England and Wales this week, the highlighted area now looks increasingly likely to see a two to three day period where maximum temperatures in the shade exceed 37 Celsius, perhaps rising to 38 to 40 Celsius in some places.
“Significant disruption to daily life is likely and the public should take every effort to make precautions and adapt their daily routines where possible to cope with these levels of heat, which up to now have been extremely rare for the UK.”
Met Office four-day forecast
04:35 , Rebecca WhittakerToday
A very hot and humid day across England and Wales with strong sunshine. Hot across parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland with light winds.
Outlook for Wednesday to Friday
Extremely hot and humid in southern and central parts of England and Wales. Strong sunshine at times, but increasingly cloudy by Thursday with showers. Becoming slightly cooler from Friday.
UK heatwave: 40C in June must be wake-up call on climate crisis, scientists warn
03:00 , Rebecca WhittakerScientists are warning that politicians are failing to appreciate the magnitude of the climate crisis after the Met Office forecast that temperatures in the UK could hit 40C for just the second time since records began.
Rare red warnings have been issued over extreme temperatures that are this week set to hit record highs for June – smashing the record set in 1976 by several degrees.
The hot conditions will have major knock-on effects for health, schools, workers and transport, with experts warning that the predicted temperatures are “incredibly alarming” and should be seen as a public health threat.
Read more here by Nick Ferris the Independent’s climate correspondent:
40C in June must be wake-up call on climate crisis, scientists warn
Met Office warn it will be a 'warm and muggy' night as temperatures stay high overnight
02:00 , Rebecca WhittakerTonight some areas of the UK are forecast to not drop much below 20C, according to the Met Office.
It warned that it will fee “warm and muggy” as temperatures are not expected to drastically drop.
Get ready for a warm and muggy night 🌓
— Met Office (@metoffice) June 22, 2026
Some spots in the west may not even see temperatures dropping much below 20℃ pic.twitter.com/6LxWYyspoQ
Recap: Where is the Red Heat-Health Alert ?
01:00 , Rebecca WhittakerThe UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a heat-health alert for most of southern England, the midlands and parts of Wales until June 25.
Health chiefs have warned this is the highest level of alert that means it’s not just vulnerable groups at risk.
🔴⚠️ A Red Heat-Health Alert has been issued across the Midlands and southern England until 25 June. This is the highest level of alert and indicates a risk to everyone's health, not just vulnerable groups. Northern England is under an Amber alert. pic.twitter.com/TDOnX0GZMU
— UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) June 22, 2026
Drivers urged to postpone journeys as record heatwave threatens to melt roads
Tuesday 23 June 2026 00:00 , Harriette BoucherMotorists whose vehicles lack efficient air conditioning are being advised to postpone non-essential travel during the current heatwave.
The RAC, which issued the urgent plea, also urged drivers to exercise "patience" as record demand is expected to lead to extended wait times for breakdown assistance.
This advice follows the Met Office's red weather warning for extreme heat, in effect for Wednesday and Thursday.
RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis said those warnings are “rare” and “we urge everyone to take them seriously this week”.
Drivers urged to postpone journeys as record heatwave threatens to melt roads
Heatwave sparks health and transport concerns as rare red health warning issued
Monday 22 June 2026 23:30 , Harriette BoucherExtreme heat expected this week has sparked concerns over impacts on health, schools and transport, as a rare red heat health alert is issued.
The Met Office said this week’s heatwave will see temperatures exceed 37C in the shade and could even see them rise to 38C to 40C in some parts of England and Wales, as human-driven climate change intensifies the impact of a “heat-dome” settling over western Europe.
The hot conditions, which have been very rare in the UK until now, will be accompanied by high humidity, and very warm and humid nights which will make it hard for people to recover overnight, the forecasters added.
Read more here:
Heatwave sparks health and transport concerns as rare red health warning issued
What is a red weather warning and what should Britons expect?
Monday 22 June 2026 23:00 , Harriette BoucherA red warning is the most extreme weather alert that is only issued when significant impacts are expected.
The Met Office said the heat, which could reach 40C, will bring high humidity, exacerbating the potential for discomfort and health impacts, with very warm and humid night times also reducing the ability for people to recover overnight.
“During the heatwave expected to affect a large part of England and Wales this week, the highlighted area now looks increasingly likely to see a two to three day period where maximum temperatures in the shade exceed 37 Celsius, perhaps rising to 38 to 40 Celsius in some places.
“Significant disruption to daily life is likely and the public should take every effort to make precautions and adapt their daily routines where possible to cope with these levels of heat, which up to now have been extremely rare for the UK.”
Recap: South East Water customers told to only use water for essential purposes
Monday 22 June 2026 22:30 , Harriette BoucherSouth East Water is urging households to only use water for essential purposes while demand for drinking water is “exceptionally high”.
On Sunday, its customers used 56 million litres more water than usual, and it’s expected that this figure will rise as temperatures get higher.
Households have been told to stop using hosepipes and only use water for hygiene, drinking and cooking.
Thames Water and Anglian Water have also asked customers to “ditch the hosepipe” and reduce their water consumption.
Dr Geoff Darch, head of strategic asset planning at Anglian Water, said: “As always, our teams are working round the clock to keep taps flowing across our region, but during hot weather like this, we see a much higher demand for water, which puts pressure on our networks.
“Please think carefully about your water usage and use less water now, to help make sure that you and your community have enough water to go around.”
Monday 22 June 2026 22:00 , Harriette BoucherA trade union has urged employers to keep workers safe during the heatwave and not let them work in extreme and dangerous conditions,
Joanne Thomas, Usdaw general secretary, said: “Heat stress is a real health and safety risk that can lead to more accidents and injuries. As the temperature rises, heat exhaustion starts. People begin to suffer loss of concentration, irritability, dizziness, headaches, nausea and fainting.
“Under current regulations, there is a legal minimum temperature limit for working indoors. However, there is currently no law stating a maximum – only the responsibility to assess the risks and provide temporary, local cooling methods, access to water and rest facilities where necessary
“Usdaw has long campaigned for the introduction of a legal maximum working temperature of 30C, or 2°C for those doing strenuous work, with employers obliged to adopt cooling measures when the workplace temperature hits 24C.”
Europe heatwave mapped: France bans alcohol and Spain cancels sporting events as temperatures soar to 40C
Monday 22 June 2026 21:30 , Harriette BoucherThe Independent’s Alex Croft reports:
Europe heatwave mapped: France bans alcohol and Spain cancels sporting events as temperatures soar to 40C
Temperatures are set to rocket above a scorching 40 degrees celsius (C) in Europe this week, as the continent braces for the hottest weather of the year so far.
European countries have restricted public drinking, cancelled transport, concerts, and sporting events, and are preparing to close schools as they urge people to take extreme precaution in what is likely to be a deadly heatwave.
In France, three people have died as extreme heat strikes the country, forcing nearly 2,700 schools to plan closure with temperatures in Bordeaux expected to exceed 42C on Monday.
Europe heatwave mapped: The holiday hotspots roasting in 40C temperatures
Recap: Where rare red weather warnings have been issued
Monday 22 June 2026 21:00 , Harriette BoucherA red weather warning for extreme heat will come into force at 9am on Wednesday.
The rare warning, which indicates a danger to life, is in place in East Midlands, East of England, London and South East England, South West England, Wales, and West Midlands.
Britons should expect “population-wide adverse health effects”, the Met Office said.
“The heat will be accompanied by high humidity, exacerbating the potential for discomfort and health impacts, with very warm and humid night times also reducing the ability for people to recover overnight.
“Significant disruption to daily life is likely and the public should take every effort to make precautions and adapt their daily routines where possible to cope with these levels of heat, which up to now have been extremely rare for the UK.”
Met Office five-day forecast
Monday 22 June 2026 20:30 , Harriette BoucherThis Evening and Tonight
A widely warm night, very warm in parts of Wales and southwest England. Most places staying dry, but thunderstorms may affect southern and central parts of England this evening.
Tuesday
A very hot and humid day across England and Wales with strong sunshine. Hot across parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland with light winds.
Outlook for Wednesday to Friday
Extremely hot and humid in southern and central parts of England and Wales. Strong sunshine at times, but increasingly cloudy by Thursday with showers. Becoming slightly cooler from Friday.
TfL warns tubes and trains may be disrupted in the heat
Monday 22 June 2026 20:23 , Rebecca WhittakerTemperatures are forecast to hit 38C in the capital later this week which may cause tube delays, Transport for London warns.
Claire Mann, TfL’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “Customers should be aware that, given the very high temperatures that are forecast, we are likely to see some disruption to rail and Tube services – with rail temperatures likely to lead to temporary speed restrictions and therefore reduced services in some cases. This will vary by line, with some services that share parts of the over ground rail network – like the Overground and the Elizabeth line – likely to be more affected.
“We encourage customers to think about their comfort and to consider whether their journey is necessary. We will do our best to run as many rail and Tube services as possible and keep customers as comfortable as possible. We expect bus services to run as normal although, during periods of hot weather, we are encouraging customers to carry water with them when they travel on any of our services.
“Please look out for each other while travelling. For the latest information on how TfL services are operating, customers should use TfL's real-time travel tools, including status updates, Journey Planner and TfL Go.”
UK cannot withstand extreme heat of current climate, experts say
Monday 22 June 2026 20:00 , Harriette BoucherTemperatures of more than 43C are now possible and the UK is not prepared, experts have warned.
Bill McGuire, professor emeritus of geophysical and climate hazards at University College London, said the country’s health services, energy infrastructure and transport are “simply not built for these conditions”.
He added: “As 40+ temperatures become ever more common, expect many thousands sleeping in the streets as poorly insulated homes become uninhabitable heattraps, widespread power cuts as power cables sag and break, transport chaos as rails, overhead wires and signalling fail, and A & E departments overwhelmed by the old, very young, and vulnerable suffering from overheating.”
Richard Allan, professor of climate science at the University of Reading’s meteorology department, said: “A warmer atmosphere’s greater thirst for water also means more rapidly onsetting droughts but also the intensification of extreme rainfall and associated flooding as excess water drained from the soil and oceans is channelled into storms that can often be sparked off by summer heat.
“The reality of global warming talked about when I was young in the 1980s is now playing out, yet the solution to avoid further dangerous climate change remains unchanged – upgrade our industry, transport and agriculture to vanquish greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors of society.”
