The Met Office has issued a red weather warning for extreme heat on Wednesday and Thursday
An amber warning is in place for for Monday and Tuesday
There have been 800 lightning strikes in the West on Monday afternoon
Most of England and Wales is expected to hit more than 30C this week
The UK's health agency has also issued a red heat alert across the West
Some schools have closed early to protect children from the heat
Waste crews are also starting their collections early in some places in a bid to beat the heat
You can see our tips on how to stay cool here
Road turns into river as heavy rain hits
Levels on the River Sheppey in Somerset are rising rapidly amid heavy rainfall within the last hour.
The Environment Agency warned Shepton Mallet, Croscombe, Upper Coxley, Coxley and Fenny Castle will be the most affected.
So far we've had reports of flash flooding in Watchet, Cheddar, Shepton Mallet and Bath.
Hundreds of homes are without electricity this evening as storms batter the West Country.
The National Grid says 252 properties in Shepton Mallet and 165 homes in Glastonbury are without power.
Blackouts have also been reported on the outskirts of Bristol, in the BS48 area near Long Ashton, with 110 properties affected.
Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley
West of England
Image source, Plaster CommunicationsThe open air concerts take place in Bristol's harbourside area.
Organisers of a six-day music festival have confirmed the event will still go ahead.
Bristol Sounds' leaders are urging revellers to "take precautions" as temperatures could peak at 39C.
"Bring a water bottle to use at our water refill points, and bring sunscreen to regularly apply throughout the day.
"There will be free water refill stations available to the left of the stage, and additional bar facilities have been introduced to increase access to soft drinks and water. Security teams at the front of the stage will also be distributing drinking water throughout the concerts, as well as to those queuing to enter early," organisers say.
"Ticket holders are encouraged to bring an empty reusable water bottle, which can be refilled on site. Welfare and medical teams will be available throughout the site," a spokesperson said.
Headliners Super Furry Animals are taking to the stage on Wednesday, when a red weather warning for heat will be in place, supported by Bristol band Getdown Services and Gwenno.
Thursday will see The Streets return as headliners. They'll be supported by CASISDEAD and Jimothy Lacoste.
The open-air concerts take place in Bristol's harbourside area from Tuesday to Sunday.
Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley
West of England
Some schools have announced early closures while others are shutting completely in an effort to protect pupils and staff.
In Bristol, Hillcrest Primary in Knowle is closing from midday on Wednesday and Thursday, and Bristol Met Academy in Fishponds will shut on both days.
Meanwhile, Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership, which includes 39 schools across Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset, is closing all of its schools on Wednesday and Thursday.
Bea Swallow
West of England
Image source, Getty ImagesGreat Western Railway (GWR) has warned customers to travel only when necessary on Wednesday and Thursday, as temperatures are set to peak at 39C.
Extreme heat can cause rails to expand and buckle, so trains must run at a reduced speed to keep services safe, a GWR spokesperson said.
This will mean fewer trains and slightly longer journey times during the warmest periods of each day.
As a result, GWR has eased ticket restrictions for tickets purchased for Wednesday or Thursday, which will be valid on Friday, Monday and Tuesday.
Bea Swallow
West of England
Wayne Darch, from the South Western Ambulance Service, said the team have already seen an increase in activity across the region as the heatwave approaches.
On Sunday, they managed 9.5% more incidents than expected for this time of year.
Residents have been urged to only call 999 in an emergency.
“Our people are continuing to work incredibly hard in very hot and challenging conditions, and I’d like to say a huge thank you to them and NHS partners for everything they are doing," Darch said.
“We want to be there for everyone that needs us in a life-threatening emergency but to do this, we need to have our ambulances free to respond to those most in need."
Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley
West of England
Storms batter West Country amid rare weather warnings
There have been 800 lightning strikes in the past hour over the West Country, according to a storm map, external.
The Met Office predicts storms will hit the West of England for the next few hours.
In Somerset, temperatures will drop from 31C to 27C, with thunderstorms continuing until 18:00 BST.
In Bristol, the mercury will dip from 32C to 28C, with thunderstorms, heavy showers and lightning continuing until 19:00.
Meanwhile storms are set to hit Gloucestershire until about 20:00.
In Wiltshire, temperatures will drop from 32C to 26C, with heavy showers and lightning continuing until 20:00.
Gloucester City Council, Bristol City Council, and Wiltshire Council have now joined Somerset Council in activating their Severe Weather Emergency Plan (SWEP), providing targeted support for rough sleepers until Friday.
According to the charity Shelter, rough sleepers are at high risk during periods of hot weather because they may be lying on hot tarmac or in direct sun with little access to water or shade.
They also may suffer from health conditions or addictions, and alcohol and other substances are dehydrating.
While heat SWEP does not include an accommodation offer, increased patrols will provide water and sunscreen, while directing people to a network of designated “cool spaces”.
The public are being asked to contact emergency services if they are concerned about the health or safety of a rough sleeper.
Mike Gilmore
BBC News, West of England
Julie Sanders, in Bedminster, Bristol, says she's ventured out of her home today out of necessity.
“I’ve only come out today because I’ve had to. Usually I’m at home [with the] doors shut, windows shut, fans on," she says.
To keep safe, Julie says she's been trying to stay out of direct sunlight.
"Hopefully the stores I’ve got to go in have air conditioning to keep cool.”
Mike Gilmore
West of England
How do you cope with the heat?
Philomena Ala, in Bedminster, Bristol, works in Greece during the summer and said the best way to beat the heat is to be in the water.
"I think we’re going to buy a paddling pool and sit in that," she said.
Her advice to keep safe: “Wear loads of sun cream, wear a hat, drink a lot [of water] and if you get too hot, go inside and find some shade.”
Find out more about how to stay safe in the water here.
Philomena Ala advises people to spend time in the water
Bea Swallow
West of England
After the Plimsoll Bridge in Bristol was forced to close in May when its steel structure overheated, Bristol City Council says scheduled swings of the bridge have been temporarily suspended to avoid history repeating itself.
A council spokesperson said forecasts suggest the surface temperature of the road network could peak at about 53C this week.
Image source, GoogleIn Chepstow, the Old Wye Bridge could face similar structural issues over the coming days.
The 210-year-old bridge linking Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire only reopened to pedestrians on Saturday after months of being closed due to cracks in its structural beams.
But engineers warned the structure was sensitive to heat, and will likely be forced to close again when temperatures go above 30C.
Image source, Getty ImagesBea Swallow
West of England
A further spate of schools have confirmed they will close their doors early on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to prioritise the wellbeing of pupils and staff amid extreme temperatures.
In Wiltshire, students will be sent home from Malmesbury School, St John's Marlborough and Hardenhuish School from 12:35 BST.
Image source, Getty ImagesStudents at Cirencester Deer Park Secondary in Gloucestershire will also be sent home at 12:35.
In a statement, the secondary school said: "[This decision] has not been taken lightly, but it is the right one for our school given the current conditions on site and extreme temperatures forecast."
St Gregory's Catholic College in Bath will also shut from at 13:30. Students who are eligible for free school meals will be able to collect a sandwich before they leave.
It follows some early school closures already today.
Bea Swallow
West of England
As people flock to rivers and beauty spots to cool off in the water, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is reminding people of the dangers of cold water shock.
If you do find yourself in difficulty, its advice is as follows:
Image source, Getty ImagesGroup manager Shaun Milton said: “The exceptional weather that is forecast for the coming days means that we all need to take care when out and about.
"We want people to enjoy the sunshine, but we do urge everyone to think about what they’re doing and perhaps amend their plans to stay as safe as possible.”
Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley
West of England
People flocking to their nearest coastlines to cool off are being reminded to use lifeguarded beaches for their safety.
Patrol times at lifeguarded beaches run from 10:00 to 18:00 BST.
"Remember, if there are no flags, there are no lifeguards," said regional water safety lead for the RNLI Steve Instance.
The RNLI is also appealing to people to share water safety advice with family and friends, particularly young people and teenagers, who accounted for the majority of drowning fatalities during the last heatwave.
"Cold water shock is a real danger, which we particularly want people to be aware of," Instance said.
"The sea or open water may look inviting during hot weather, but it remains cold enough year-round to trigger cold water shock, which can cause uncontrollable gasping, increased heart rate, and can lead to panic and drowning very quickly, it’s best to enter the water slowly to gradually acclimatise."
Drivers could see gritters out on some roads this week due to the potential for surfaces to soften or become sticky under the heat, with heavy traffic even causing them to rut in some places.
Edmund King, AA president, said: “If drivers come across a softened or damaged surface, they should slow down, avoid harsh braking or steering, and leave extra space from the vehicle in front.”
Avon and Somerset Police is asking people to look out for their vulnerable family, friends and neighbours who may struggle to keep themselves cool and hydrated during the hot weather.
The force also advises anybody travelling to pack plenty of water, snacks and a phone charger and to plan their route.
Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley
West of England
Image source, PAAre you able to opt for using public transport instead of your own vehicle this week?
Rod Dennis, road safety spokesperson at RAC, warns there could be a record number of breakdowns this week as the heat puts extra strain on vehicles.
He is urging drivers to avoid non-essential journeys if their vehicles do not have effective air-conditioning.
“The heatwave will affect services right across the UK and while all patrols will be working incredibly hard to assist drivers, longer waits are more likely,” he said, adding that some simple basic checks under the bonnet could reduce the risk of breakdowns," he says.
Ruth Bradley
Politics reporter, BBC Somerset
At a hairdressers in Bridgwater, owner Jo Bryant says she's been changing her appointments around to take place during the cooler mornings.
She's also been using tepid and cool water on her clients and giving them a choice if they want a blow dry or not to make their visits more comfortable.
"I don't put the lights on to reduce the heat, I've got a fan on. It's so hot, it's not worth it," Bryant says.
"It's the afternoon that's worse in here because the sun comes down to the windows and through the glass roof.
"There's 90-year-old on Thursday that my husband's got and I said I think we should ring them and advise to reschedule."
Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley
West of England
Health and social care services across the country are being told to ensure they are prepared for the extreme heat this week.
Sarah Bird, lead consultant in health protection at the UK Health Security Agency South West, says it is "vitally important" everyone understands the risk post by high temperatures.
“Simple actions like staying hydrated, avoiding the sun during the hottest part of the day, and keeping your home cool can make a big difference.
"It’s also important to look out for others, especially elderly relatives, neighbours, and those with underlying health conditions, to make sure they are aware of the forecast and following the necessary advice.”
