The UK’s Met Office issues a rare “red” weather warning as a heatwave moves in, with temperatures expected to reach around 39C in parts of the South and South East. The warnings cover periods of the hottest conditions and signal a higher-than-usual risk to the public. Several outlets report that the forecast heat could exceed or challenge the historic record for June set in 1976, when the UK previously experienced exceptionally high June temperatures. Scientists featured in the reporting warn that the conditions are dangerous and note that hotter readings could push higher thresholds in some locations. The Met Office’s red warning is the most serious level in its system, indicating that the situation can have widespread impacts and that people should follow official guidance to reduce risk during extreme heat. The reporting describes the event as a major early-summer heatwave, with the most severe temperatures expected in the coming days, particularly in areas already forecast to be among the hottest.