Warm, dry October means more water restrictions

October 2017 has been one of the warmest on record, according to official figures.

Thursday brought yet more temperature records - the mercury rose to a new end-of-October high of 26.8C in Clermont-Ferrand, while the 27.2C recorded in Toulouse was the highest since 2001, while the temperature of 21.1C in Agen was the highest since 1995.

But it is not all good news. While many will have enjoyed the additional hours of sunshine and the clear, blue skies, the lack of rain has force a number of local authorities - particularly in the south of the country - to extend water restrictions for at least another month.

And there appears to be little chance of much rain in the coming months. Météo-France's broad strokes long-term forecast for November 2017 to January 2018 suggests that the country will remain warm and mild compared to seasonal averages, and that while it is likely to be wet in the north of the country, the Mediterranean region will not see much rain.

Météo-France also reported that the temperature in Nîmes, in the Gard, had risen above 25C for 146 of the 298 days so far in 2017 - another new record.