Italy limited work outdoors, France shut schools and Turkey battled wildfires on Tuesday in a European heatwave that meteorologists said was "exceptional" for striking so early this year.

Europe’s heat wave is set to peak over the coming days, with a blast of Saharan air triggering red alerts from France to the Swiss Alps.

Europe is enduring its first major heatwave of the summer, with health warnings issued across the continent as scorching temperatures continue to grip several nations. While conditions are beginning to improve in some regions, France remains particularly affected, bracing for extreme heat.