transportation for London has already announced that there will be reduced service on some lines next week ahead of what is expected to be the hottest day ever.
Unprecedented temperatures of 41C (106F) are forecast for Monday and Tuesday, with health officials placing the country under a “national state of emergency”.
But even if the country is still three days away from the record heat, TFL said there will be reduced service for Overground services.
A poster displayed today at Action Central station in west London revealed there will be just two trains an hour between Richmond and Stratford and Watford Junction and Euston on Monday and Tuesday.
There will be no connection at all between Romford and Upminster.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has warned commuters that “significant changes” will be needed in their routines.
“I urge Londoners to be very careful and look out for each other in the coming days,” he added.
The reduced service will distress commuters ahead of travel chaos caused by rail strikes due next month amid a row over pay and conditions.
Transport for London has already announced that there will be reduced service on some routes next week ahead of what is expected to be the hottest day ever. A poster at a London train station showed there will be just two trains per hour between Richmond and Stratford and Watford Junction and Euston on Monday and Tuesday
Mr Khan added: “The Met Office has now issued a red warning for extreme heat on Monday and Tuesday.
“This is potentially dangerous and a very serious consequence of climate change.
“This warning is not limited to the most vulnerable and means significant changes will be required in all of our daily routines and there will likely be an impact on travel.
“All of the capital’s key authorities and emergency services are working closely together to ensure London is prepared for the extreme heat forecast and will continue to advise Londoners ahead of Monday.”
His statement came as meteorologists gave an 80 per cent chance of the mercury surpassing the UK’s record temperature of 38.7C (101.7F) set in Cambridge in 2019, with the current heatwave hitting its peak on Tuesday will reach its climax.
There is a 50 per cent chance of temperatures reaching 40C anywhere in the UK, likely along the A1 corridor, with the Met Office issuing its first red extreme heat warning.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has warned commuters that “significant changes” will be needed in their routines
Though the country is three days away from record heat, TFL said there will be reduced service for overground services. Above: Commuters on the Jubilee Line yesterday
BBC Weather predicts parts of London will have temperatures of 41C (106F).
The UK health agency has raised its heat warning from level three to level four – a “national emergency”.
Level four is reached “when a heat wave is so severe and/or prolonged that its impact extends beyond the health and social care system… At this level, illness and death can occur among the fit and healthy, and not just in high-risk groups.” it was said.
The Met Office’s red alert for Monday and Tuesday covers an area from London to Manchester and as far north as the Vale of York.
Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said: “If people have vulnerable relatives or neighbors, now is the time to ensure they take appropriate action to cope with the heat because if the forecast is as we think it will be in the red warning zone, then human lives are in danger.
“This is a very serious situation.”
He said there was an 80 per cent chance that Britain’s all-time temperature record would be broken and a 50 per cent chance that temperatures of 40C would be reached somewhere in Britain.
“Most likely that’s within the red warning zone for extreme heat,” said Mr. Madge.
“Probably the best areas to look at are north of London and as far inland as Lincolnshire.
“Somewhere like Peterborough, Grantham, Sandy, Stevenage, areas like that, A1 Corridor.”
He said temperatures reaching 40C would be a “historic event”.
“When we hit 40C, that’s a very iconic threshold and shows that climate change is with us now,” he said.
“This is becoming much more likely due to climate change.”
Mike Childs, director of science, policy and research at Friends of the Earth, said: “Each year the effects of climate change become more evident and more severe.
“Without meaningful government intervention, millions of Britons, particularly the elderly and young children, will be at increasing risk from unhealthy heatwaves like the ones we’re experiencing.”
TUESDAY: The Met Office expects temperatures of 40C (104F) in London next Tuesday, which would be unprecedented
A No 10 spokesman said that “some parts of the network may need rail speed restrictions next week to cope with the hot weather and avoid possible damage”.
Downing Street said Cobra met on Thursday amid the heatwave and talks with sectors including the NHS “will continue to work closely with all these sectors today, over the weekend and into early next week”.
Meanwhile, motorists have been advised to take their trips outside of the hottest times of the day, especially if they have older cars.
Sean Sidley, AA Patrol of the Year said: “There are reports of road spreaders being out this weekend to reduce the chance of our roads melting.
“When things are getting sticky on the roads, there’s nothing worse than being stuck in traffic with the mercury rising, so make sure you have plenty of water – at least a liter per person – and plenty of fuel with you, or if you’re using that Driving Electric Vehicle (EV) – make sure you have enough charge so you can use the air conditioning when needed.’
Tim Doran, of the RNLI Water Safety Team, said the service anticipates a “busy weekend” for its lifeboat crews and lifeguards.
“If you plan to go to the beach, we recommend you visit a beach that has lifeguards and swim between the red and yellow flags,” he said.
