Europe is within the midst of a record-breaking heatwave.

Italy faces one other wave of intense warmth over the approaching days, pushed by an anticyclone which has seen scorching air currents from north Africa sweep in throughout the nation.

The newest heatwave has been christened “Apocalisse4800” by Italian climate forecast web site Ilmeteo.it, an “apocalyptic” reference to the heights the warmth might attain, resulting in fears of ice and snow melting in mountain glaciers as much as 4,800 metres in altitude.

The brand new wave of scorching climate, which comes after Portugal registered a file 46.3°C on Wednesday, “will most likely be probably the most intense in historical past at a European stage”, mentioned meteorologist Andrea Garbinato, editor of Ilmeteo.it.

Temperatures are set to climb to 38/40°C within the coming days in lots of components of Italy, together with the north which is battling the worst drought in 70 years, in keeping with Il Meteo.

Rome has issued a Degree 2 “orange” warmth warning for the weekend of 16-17 July, with civil safety authorities working a 24-hour hotline, tel 800854854.

Photograph credit score: James Dalrymple / Shutterstock.com