Thursday 25 June starts with the most demanding heat setup of the week for many UK drivers. The Met Office regional forecast for London and the South East says the extreme heat continues today, with dry hazy sunshine and a maximum temperature of 38C in western parts of the region. The wider UK forecast says it will be hot for most of the country and exceptionally hot across southern and central parts of England and Wales. At the same time, the Met Office says a Red Extreme Heat Warning is in force through to late on Thursday night. That makes this a good morning for simple car prep before the hottest part of the day turns ordinary trips into more tiring ones.
Heat changes routine journeys long before anything dramatic happens
The usual problem on a day like this is not a major incident. It is the slow build of avoidable distraction and fatigue. Cabin temperatures rise quickly after parking, bright hazy sunshine shows every smear on the windscreen and slow traffic feels harder work when the air is already warm before breakfast. If you clear the car early, place useful kit within reach and check the route before leaving, the rest of the day becomes easier to manage.
Start with the safety basics GOV.UK expects every driver to check
GOV.UK says you are responsible for making sure your vehicle is safe to drive. Every time you drive, it says you should check that the windscreen, windows and mirrors are clean, all lights work and the brakes work. It also says to stay on top of washer fluid and tyre condition. In extreme heat, those simple checks matter more because glare, dust and extra luggage all make small weaknesses more obvious.
- Clean the windscreen, mirrors and side windows so bright sunshine does not exaggerate old smears.
- Top up screenwash if the bottle is low, because dust and dried marks show up quickly in hot weather.
- Check tyres if the car is carrying children, holiday bags, work kit or extra passengers.
- Place water, sunglasses, a phone cable, a power bank and any essential medication inside the cabin.
- Move loose bottles, charging leads and shopping bags away from the driver footwell and front seats.
- Check fuel or battery range before leaving, especially if traffic or a diversion could stretch the trip.
Do the route check early because overnight closures still matter at breakfast time
National Highways says planned full closures on England's motorways and major A roads generally run from 8pm to 6am, and it reminds drivers that early-morning journeys may still be affected by closures that started the evening before. That matters on a Thursday like this because a hot-weather delay feels worse when you are already driving in rising temperatures. Spend one minute checking the route before you commit to the normal road, especially if you are heading to work, school, a station or an airport.
Keep the useful kit inside the cabin, not buried under everything else
The items you may need first should stay where they can actually be reached. Water, a charging cable, a power bank and medication are far more useful in the passenger area than under bags in the boot. The same rule applies to an escape tool. A compact window breaker and seatbelt cutter should stay inside the cabin, not packed away where it becomes awkward to reach in a hurry.
If one vehicle handles most weekday driving, a single tool close to hand is a tidy option. If you want one near the driver and another in a second car or closer to family passengers, a two-pack is the more practical setup.
Recommended JUFO tools for today's extreme-heat journeys
Keep the tool inside the cabin so it stays reachable if congestion, heat or a diversion changes the journey.
JUFO 2 Pack Car Window Breaker and Seatbelt Cutter
Best for keeping one tool near the driver and another in a second car or closer to family passengers.
From GBP 16.99
JUFO 2-in-1 Car Window Breaker and Seatbelt Cutter
A compact single-car option to keep close to hand for commuting, school runs and everyday local driving.
From GBP 8.95
Use the cooler part of the morning to get ahead of the day
The Met Office says the Red warning remains active through Thursday night, while the regional forecast points to another exceptionally warm night ahead and Friday staying hot as well. That means the easiest wins still happen early. Clear the glass, check the tyres, place the useful kit where it belongs and leave the car ready before the cabin becomes uncomfortable. Small checks done now are easier than trying to solve missing essentials later, when the road is busier and the heat is harder on both driver and passengers.
Sources: Met Office London and South East forecast updated 04:00 BST on 25 June 2026; Met Office UK forecast updated 03:00 UTC on 25 June 2026; Met Office Red Extreme Heat Warning update published 24 June 2026; National Highways daily closure report last updated 24 June 2026 15:30; GOV.UK vehicle safety checks.
