Paris, Europe Brief News – France and Spain have been experiencing a remarkable and unusual heat spell for the month of October.
Some parts of the west of France are reaching 29 degrees celsius, which is causing both pleasure and concern for local residents.
“This year is exceptional,” Rose-Marie Martini told Reuters news agency as she tanned on the beach at Nice.
“At the end of October it cools down normally and by All Saints Day [1 November] it usually rains.”
Millions anxious about the jump in Europe’s fuel prices will not have to turn on their heating just yet.
However, it may also be a sign of changing weather patterns after a summer which saw extreme heat in Europe, with ferocious wildfires and droughts.
Heatwaves have become more frequent and more intense, and last longer, because of human-induced climate change.
The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and unusual temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions.
An exceptionally-warm front blowing up from northwest Africa is said to be the reason for the heat which is set to sweep across western Europe as far as the UK.
But even if the locals appreciate this warmer autumn, especially not having to put the heating on as usual, they are aware that something is not quite right.
