Sudden Wind Storm Sends Beachgoers Running in France

A sunny summer Sunday at Hendaye Beach on France's Basque Coast was abruptly interrupted by a sudden weather phenomenon known as an enbata. Powerful winds overturned beach umbrellas, blasted sand into the air, and scattered towels, forcing many beachgoers to flee the shore.

Locals are familiar with the phenomenon, which is typical for the region. An enbata (also known as a galerna) is a short-lived but powerful northerly or northwesterly wind, often accompanied by a sharp drop in temperature, high humidity, and occasional rain. It develops when a pressure difference forms between the Atlantic Ocean and the heated inland areas.