Extremely hot weather is expected on the Isle of Wight in the coming days and it has already sparked warnings for travellers, schoolchildren and vulnerable Islanders.

The extent of the heat is being debated, but temperatures will peak on Monday and Tuesday and forecasters agree it will stay very warm overnight.

Health bosses have raised concern for people with heart and breathing conditions, and for the elderly and very young.

Scroll down for the latest information about the heatwave...

What are weather forecasters saying?

Not all forecasters agree on how hot it will get here.

For the Isle of Wight, the Met Office has issued an amber warning (read it HERE), which will run from the early hours of Sunday until midnight on Tuesday. 

It says: "Some exceptionally high temperatures are possible both by day and by night; the cumulative effects of very warm nights (particularly in urbanised areas) and hot days are likely to bring widespread impacts to people and infrastructure.

"Although most likely less exceptional, it should also be noted that very warm to hot conditions are also probable across the majority of the rest of the UK."

The Island escapes Monday and Tuesday's red warning for extreme heat, as that stops in the greater London area. It is predicting top temperatures of around 28 Celsius but lows of 24 Celsius.

Isle of Wight County Press: The Met Office's weather warnings.The Met Office's weather warnings.

Isle of Wight County Press:

However the Isle of Wight Met Service says things could get even hotter and it has issued issued its own warning for extreme heat (read it HERE), for between 10am and 7pm on Monday and 10am and 3pm on Tuesday.

It says northern parts of the Isle of Wight could see temperatures of between 35 Celsius and 37 Celsius on Monday and highs of around 30 Celsius on Tuesday, but adds it will be cooler the further south you go. Forecaster Jamie Russell points out this is vastly different to what Islanders are used to, compared to parts of southern Europe which sees these sort of temperatures more often.

The Isle of Wight Met Service has also issued a very high risk of wildfires warning, until midnight on Saturday.

What have the schools said?

Some mainland schools have revealed they will close during the peak of the heatwave, and on the Isle of Wight, Christ the King College in Carisbrooke has told pupils in years 9, 10 and 12 to stay home and attend lessons online instead. Year 11 pupils have already finished for the summer. Years 7 and 8 are expected in class.

Some Isle of Wight schools are allowing children to wear their PE kit instead of their usual school uniform.

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What have travel operators said about the heat?

Trains

Network Rail is asking passengers to only travel if 'absolutely necessary' on Monday and Tuesday. 

It warns rail temperatures can be up to 20°C higher than the air around them, which brings a risk of train tracks buckling.   

Speed restrictions are being introduced across the network, which will mean longer journeys.

Long-distance services to Bournemouth, Southampton and Portsmouth will be among those to be affected. 

The Customer Experience director for SWR, which runs Island Line, Christian Neill, said the predicted temperatures will be 'unprecedented'.  

He has warned of the likelihood of short-notice cancellations and disruption. 

“We are working on a reduced timetable that provides certainty for our customers, but changes are likely to come at relatively short notice, so if you do choose to travel, please check your journey as close to your time of travel as possible.”  

Unused tickets for Monday and Tuesday will be valid on Wednesday and Thursday.

Roads

Hampshire County Council says it is preparing to deploy its gritters to soak up melting road surfaces. We have not heard a similar warning from the Isle of Wight Council.

What have the health professionals said about the heat?

Speaking to the County Press this week, Juliet Pearce, Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals at the Isle of Wight NHS Trust, said: "There's lots of good evidence that in extreme heat people with pre-existing medical conditions do struggle and rates of certain types of illnesses go up.

"People who have cardiac issues, people who are breathless, the frail and the elderly will really struggle in this heat.

"We will see an increase in admissions and that could last for about 10 days after the end of the heatwave. It will have a big impact."

Isle of Wight County Press:

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