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France and Spain experienced unusually warm temperatures on Thursday, bringing some bathers out to beaches but also adding to mounting concerns about changing weather patterns in Europe.
On the French Riviera, tourists were sunbathing in bikini, the terraces were full and the seawater was warm enough for swimming.
“At the end of October it cools down normally and by All Saints Day it usually rains, but this year is exceptional,” said Rose-Marie Martini, tanning on the beach in a bathing suit.
She said that at home, the heating was still off, and that the water was still suitable for swimming at 20 to 21 degrees Celsius.
Western Europe’s unusually balmy October follows a summer during which blistering temperatures parched farmlands and rivers and wildfires ran amok.
Successive heatwaves baked Europe and placed renewed focus on…
