How warm UK could be today as red extreme heat warnings come into force

The UK is bracing for record-breaking temperatures, with a red weather warning for extreme heat issued by the Met Office for large parts of England and Wales from Wednesday to Thursday.

Temperatures could reach 40C, potentially surpassing the UK's all-time high of 40.3C, due to a 'heat-dome' settling over western Europe.

Schools are closing or partially closing across several counties, and transport services, including National Rail and Eurostar, are experiencing significant disruptions and cancellations.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued red heat health alerts, while the NHS and London Fire Brigade have provided advice on coping with the heat and preventing fires.

The Army has cancelled ceremonial operations in London and Windsor, and the Mayor of London has triggered a 'high' air pollution alert due to the extreme conditions.