Temperatures are set to push 40°C in parts of Italy this weekend as the first major heatwave of the summer sweeps the country.

Italy was set for the first major heatwave of the summer this week, with peaks of 39-40C in some areas as hot air is drawn up from the Sahara.

1 minuto per la lettura (Adnkronos) – Gran caldo in arrivo sull’Italia, aspettando il 21 giugno, inizio ufficiale dell’estate. Le temperature saliranno, con picchi di 39°C attesi…

Il picco dell'ondata di calore raggiungerà i suoi massimi nel corso del weekend con temperature che sfioreranno i 40 gradi

Temperatures are set to push 40°C in parts of Italy this weekend as the first major heatwave of the summer sweeps the country.

Temperatures in southern Europe and the Mediterranean are soon getting too hot for tourists

The heat surge around summer solstice, typically the start of the three hottest months of the year, raised concerns that extreme conditions may persist this year.

The severe heatwave prompted nationwide warnings, alcohol bans, transport disruption and signs of strain on wildlife and at tourist hotspots.

The severe heatwave prompted nationwide warnings, alcohol bans, transport disruption and signs of strain on wildlife and at tourist hotspots.