Commuters warned after extreme heat alert activated ahead of 38°C temperatures

| Live News reporter Published August 13, 2026 7:39am Updated August 13, 2026 7:39am The fifth heatwave of the season is set to top 37°C in the amber warning zone covering a chunk of the UK (Picture: Getty Images) Another hot spell has landed in the UK and it could push temperatures in parts of the country up to 38°C. The fifth heatwave is underway with Met Office’s extreme amber heat warnings active from 9am today until midnight due to the scorching weather front. London, the South East, East of England and East Midlands are set to feel the brunt of the heatwave, with temperatures remaining high for the rest of the week. Heat health alerts are also in place, covering all of England as the temperatures are likely to impact the health and wellbeing of people. London is enduring bone-dry conditions after weeks without rain, while almost three-quarters of England is suffering from drought (Picture: AFP/Getty Images) Rail disruption warning Several train companies have said they are likely to be hit by disruption due to the weather, and many have told passengers to only travel if essential. Extreme heat can cause on-the-ground railway temperatures to top 50°C and rail to buckle. This is why stretches of railway, especially in direct sun, can have speed restrictions in place and fewer trains might be scheduled. Chiltern Railways is operating on a reduced timetable between 11am and 8pm as a result to ensure a ‘reliable service’ can be provided ‘during the hottest part of the day’. Michael Stewart, from Chiltern Railways, said: ‘If you do need to travel, please check your journey before setting out, allow extra time and carry water with you to stay hydrated.’ Temperatures will rise quickly tomorrow, with many areas reaching 35°C+ and highs of 36-37°C possible, especially across the Midlands, east and southeastAn Amber Extreme Heat Warning is in force, with the heat potentially causing impacts to health, transport and infrastructure pic.twitter.com/tS4Tc4eWra— Met Office (@metoffice) August 12, 2026 He added that customers should travel ‘only if it’s essential on Thursday because of the exceptionally high temperatures forecast across our network’. Stewart hopes that the minimised schedule will provide more ‘comfort’ for travellers. Full list of rail companies impacted by hot weather Here are all the train operators which have announced planned service changes due to weather this week. c2c Chiltern Railways CrossCountry East Midlands Railway Great Western Railway Northern Transport for Wales West Midlands Railway Today, off-peak services between London Marylebone and Birmingham Moor Street will be running hourly, with some services between London Marylebone and Oxford cancelled. Latest heatwave news and guidance Chiltern Railways will not run any services from Birmingham Snow Hill after 10.15am. People have been advised to only travel if it’s ‘essential’ (Picture: James Manning/PA Wire) Shuttle services from Leamington Spa to Birmingham Moor Street will only run until 11am. Should customers no longer wish to travel tomorrow, full fee-free refunds are available from their point of purchase, the operator has confirmed. Alternatively, tickets dated for tomorrow can be used on Friday or Saturday. Rail chaos continues throughout the UK, with other operators suspending numerous services this week including East Midlands Railway (EMR), which has also advised only ‘essential’ journeys tomorrow. Services across the country will be suspended and reduced (Picture: PA) EMR confirmed that regional services between Sheffield and Liverpool will be suspended on Thursday, while services between Nottingham and Worksop and between Nottingham and Leicester will be suspended after 12pm. Customers have been encouraged to travel before midday where possible and to expect longer journeys and increased risk of short-notice changes, with providers asking for ‘patience and understanding’. Temperatures haven’t risen above 3638°C in August for six years, with 36.438°C recorded at Heathrow and Kew Gardens in 2020. It comes amid reports that 2026 is looking likely to be the hottest summer on record, while nearly three-quarters of England and the whole of Wales are in drought due to the driest July yet. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page. Arrow MORE: Commuters warned after extreme heat alert activated ahead of 38°C temperatures Arrow MORE: Noticed fruit and veg in the shop looking a bit different to usual? This is why Arrow MORE: Why are London’s streets especially gross right now? News Updates Stay on top of the headlines with daily email updates.