It's already pushing temperatures up to 40°C and is set to intensify further – but exactly how much longer will the first major heatwave of the summer last?

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.

Italy's first major heatwave of the summer will intensify through this week and into the next, with the centre-north expected to be particularly hard hit.