Schools Close Early And Bin Collections Start At 6am As Havering Swelters In What Could Be The Hottest Day Of The Year.

Havering is bracing itself for what could be the hottest day of the year, with temperatures expected to soar well above 30°C as a major heatwave grips London and the South East. Forecasters have warned temperatures could approach record June levels, with some parts of the country expected to reach close to 40°C.

The extreme heat is already having an impact across the borough.

Havering Council has confirmed that some schools have informed parents and carers of changes to the school day due to the soaring temperatures across today, tomorrow and Thursday. Some pupils may be sent home early as schools take steps to protect children and staff from the heat.

The situation mirrors what is happening across England and Wales, where hundreds of schools have either announced early closures or altered timetables because of concerns over extreme temperatures in classrooms.

The heatwave is also affecting council services.

Waste and recycling collections in Havering will start earlier than usual, with residents being asked to place bags and bins at their property boundary by 6am on collection days.

Several community activities have also fallen victim to the heat. Physical library events and activities have been cancelled, while Walking for Health walks scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday have also been called off.

The latest disruption comes just hours after a dramatic overnight thunderstorm swept across Havering. Many residents were woken at around 2am by spectacular lightning displays, heavy rain and booming thunder as nature provided a dramatic prelude to what is expected to be another scorching day.

The Met Office has issued rare extreme heat warnings across large parts of England and experts have warned that the combination of high temperatures and humidity could pose health risks, particularly for older people, young children and those with existing health conditions.

Residents are being urged to stay hydrated, and check on vulnerable family members, friends and neighbours.

For many Havering residents, the question today may not be whether it is hot enough to melt the tarmac—but whether they can make it through another day of soaring temperatures!

Stay up to date with all of our latest updates and content by following us on our social media accounts!

We have created community pages where we will share our up-to-date stories happening in the area. Add the area closest to where you live.