Summer is yet to officially set-in, but from north down to south, Italy will bask in high temperatures over the next few days.

The hottest region will be Tuscany, with temperatures reaching 34 degrees Celsius in parts, while temperatures in the northern city of Turin will hit 30 degrees Celsius.

Unusually, the coolest places will be in the south, with temperatures reaching up to 28 degrees in Calabria and 27 degrees Celcius in Puglia.

But if you want to properly cool down then head to Basilicata, where the occasional downpour is forecast.

The last summer heatwave to affect Europe was in 2012, during which temperatures in Italy peaked at 44.7 degrees Celsius in Palagonia, Catania on July 12th that year.

Indeed, over the whole summer of 2012, temperatures were 2.32 degrees Celsius above the thirty-year average.

The 2012 heatwave was responsible for the deaths of 15 people in Italy, while 500 were hospitalized.

Other areas of Europe are also in the midst of a heatwave, so much so German authorities have imposed speed limits on the motorway to prevent damage to the asphalt.

In Spain, temperatures will hit 36 degrees Celcius.