European countries, including Spain, France and Italy, have been hit with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius for several days. 

The heatwave poses great challenges to people's daily life and work, forest fire prevention and agricultural production. 

According to the World Meteorological Organization, spells of extreme heat are expected to come early, become more frequent and increase in intensity in the future due to climate change. 

Below are some photos taken in Europe as a blanket of hot air brings its first heatwave of summer.