Surfers ride waves at the Grande Plage ahead of storm Ciaran hitting the region, in Biarritz, southwestern France, on November 1, 2023. Much of northwestern Europe went on high alert on November 1, as a storm dubbed Ciaran threatened to bring gale-force winds and extreme rainfall to the region. Three French departments -- Finistere, Cotes-d'Armor and Manche -- will be placed on red storm alert, the highest level, at midnight (2300 GMT), national weather agency Meteo-France said. (Photo by GAIZKA IROZ / AFP)