The UK is in the midst of another heatwave which could push temperatures in parts of the country up to 38°C.
The fifth heatwave of the year is underway with Met Office extreme amber heat warnings active from 9am today until midnight due to the scorching weather front.
London, the southeast, east of England and the East Midlands are set to bear the brunt, with temperatures remaining high for the rest of the week.
Heat health alerts are also in place, covering all of England as temperatures are likely to affect wellbeing, particularly among vulnerable people.
A wildfire continues to rip through the New Forest, Hampshire, and another is raging in Saddleworth Moor, Oldham.
Firefighters are tackling the blaze in the New Forest for a fifth day today after it spread from a burning van on the A31 into heathland.
In Saddleworth, the fire broke out overnight, and people have been asked to avoid the area near Holmfirth today.
Rail disruption warning
Several train companies have said they are likely to be hit by disruption due to the weather, and many have told passengers to only travel if essential.
Extreme heat can cause on-the-ground railway temperatures to top 50°C and rail to buckle. This is why stretches of railway, especially in direct sun, can have speed restrictions in place and fewer trains might be scheduled.
Chiltern Railways is operating on a reduced timetable between 11am and 8pm as a result to ensure a ‘reliable service’ can be provided ‘during the hottest part of the day’.
Michael Stewart, from Chiltern Railways, said: ‘If you do need to travel, please check your journey before setting out, allow extra time and carry water with you to stay hydrated.’
He added that customers should travel ‘only if it’s essential on Thursday because of the exceptionally high temperatures forecast across our network’.
Stewart hopes that the minimised schedule will provide more ‘comfort’ for travellers.
Full list of rail companies impacted by hot weather
Here are all the train operators which have announced planned service changes due to weather this week.
- Transport for Wales
Today, off-peak services between London Marylebone and Birmingham Moor Street will be running hourly, with some services between London Marylebone and Oxford cancelled.
Chiltern Railways will not run any services from Birmingham Snow Hill after 10.15am.
Shuttle services from Leamington Spa to Birmingham Moor Street will only run until 11am.
Should customers no longer wish to travel today, full fee-free refunds are available from their point of purchase, the operator has confirmed.
Alternatively, tickets dated for tomorrow can be used on Friday or Saturday.
Rail chaos continues throughout the UK, with other operators suspending numerous services this week including East Midlands Railway (EMR), which has also advised only ‘essential’ journeys today.
EMR confirmed that regional services between Sheffield and Liverpool will be suspended on Thursday, while services between Nottingham and Worksop and between Nottingham and Leicester will be suspended after 12pm.
Customers have been encouraged to travel before midday where possible and to expect longer journeys and increased risk of short-notice changes, with providers asking for ‘patience and understanding’.
Temperatures haven’t risen above 3638°C in August for six years, with 36.438°C recorded at Heathrow and Kew Gardens in 2020.
It comes amid reports that 2026 is looking likely to be the hottest summer on record, while nearly three-quarters of England and the whole of Wales are in drought due to the driest July yet.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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