Britain preps for heat that may shatter highs

Temps could reach 106 in country that has little infrastructure to handle the extreme conditions

LONDON — Britain was bracing Sunday for what could be its hottest day ever recorded. Many schools in England planned to close, hospitals were canceling nonessential procedures and retirement homes were making preparations to keep their vulnerable residents safe.

Britain has declared a national emergency and issued its first-ever “red” warning for exceptional heat, meaning there is a potential risk to life with temperatures that could soar to about 106 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday and Tuesday. That would be the highest temperature recorded in Britain. The current record is 101.6 degrees Fahrenheit, set in 2019, according to the Met Office, Britain’s national weather service.

Blistering temperatures are becoming more common not just in Britain, but across the world, and climate scientists have little doubt the burning of fossil fuels is a significant driver of that change.

To make matters worse, most buildings in Britain are designed to retain heat, because cold temperatures have, in the past, been a bigger concern. Also, few homes have air conditioning, making people particularly vulnerable when temperatures soar.

“We’re asking people to keep an eye out for their neighbors and those who may be vulnerable,” Britain’s health secretary, Steve Barclay, said Saturday, adding extra measures had been added for ambulance services, including additional working hours.

The government held an emergency meeting Saturday to discuss preparations for the heat, but Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is stepping down, reportedly did not attend, opting instead to hold a farewell party, according to local news media reports.

Transportation services will also be affected Monday and Tuesday, with Transport for London, the city’s transit authority, advising people to make only essential trips.

Schools have not been told to close, although some will. Parents’ reactions were mixed.

“Some of the windows don’t open; there’s no fans, no air conditioning,” said Guy Arnel, 44, of Ascot, a town west of London, whose 18-year-old daughter’s school opted to offer classes remotely early in the week. “It is probably better off not being in a heat box like that.”

Some parents planned to have their children stay home, even if schools were open.

“We’ll be keeping our children at home so that I can monitor what they eat, what they drink and how they are in themselves,” said Zoe, 46, who has 8-year-old twins, one of whom has autism and reduced kidney function, rendering him particularly vulnerable to the heat.

“In this situation, I’m very happy to play the, ‘Mother knows best’ card,” said Zoe, who lives in Cheshire in northwest England and asked to be identified by her first name over privacy concerns.

Some hospitals said they would cancel nonemergency operations, citing the risk to both patients and staff members.

Britain’s RAC, which provides roadside assistance and other automotive services, said it was expecting a major surge in breakdowns as cars overheat and echoed the government’s calls to avoid unnecessary travel.

Travel by train was being discouraged, too. Network Rail, which operates most of Britain’s railway network, has advised people not to use trains because of the risks of heat buckling the tracks and trackside fires.

Many people said they were planning to stay close to home.

“I’m 100 percent working from home this Monday because of the heat,” said Bertie Maher, 25, who works for an e-commerce company in London. “I can have a cold shower during the day and can catch a bit of sun for 20 minutes during my lunch break.”