Hundreds of schools in the United Kingdom have either closed or have made adjustments to their hours due to an early arrival of heat waves, with the country expecting temperatures at unprecedented levels for June. The harsh conditions have forced disruptions to rail networks and warnings from health authorities in parts of England.

The UK Met Office gave a red warning of extreme heat for areas in central and southern England, which include London and Birmingham. The forecast indicated that temperatures would hit the mark of 40°C, surpassing the current record high for June, which stood at 35.6°C since 1976.

Why are schools closing?

Over 300 schools had either decided to close fully or partially on the days of the extreme heat. School officials cited overheated classrooms and said it was impossible to continue normal activities in such conditions, prompting either a cut to classes or the closure of the institution. Education authorities reported that schools all across the country were taking measures to minimize the effect of heat.

Unlike other countries, the United Kingdom doesn't have an official upper limit for classroom temperatures. Schools decide for themselves whether they should make changes to their schedule.

How does the heat impact day-to-day life?

The hot spell has impacted transport operations due to rail companies cutting down services to prevent overheating of rails and other related issues. Health agencies have said that older people, children, and those with health problems are more at risk of developing heat-related diseases.

Extreme weather conditions have raised concerns over the ability of public infrastructures to cope with hotter summer seasons. Most schools, hospitals, and other public buildings in the UK were constructed based on cold weather conditions without provision for cooling facilities such as air conditioners.

What is causing the heat?

Climate scientists have explained that climate change has increased the probability of the occurrence of more heatwaves. Based on reports from the Met Office, climate change has increased the possibility of experiencing more extreme heat spells in the UK.

Climate advisors had previously called for the country to prepare itself to deal with warmer weather through enhancing public buildings and infrastructure, among others. The current heatwave season has brought out these issues further, with schools, transport services, and other important infrastructure being heavily affected by extremely hot conditions.