Despite the rapid descent into autumn in the northern hemisphere, parts of eastern North America have experienced an exceptionally late taste of summer in recent days. Temperatures approached 23C (73F) in New York and Boston, about 7-10C above what is expected in early November. The unseasonable warmth spilled into parts of eastern Canada, with temperatures exceeding 20C, about 10-15C above normal for the time of year. The balmy conditions were caused by an area of low pressure in the US midwest, dragging up exceptionally warm air from the Gulf of Mexico along its eastern flank. This area of low pressure will gradually drift eastwards, allowing temperatures to fall closer to the average.
Further south, severe thunderstorms have resulted in numerous flood warnings and evacuation warnings being issued this week across many states, with disruptive weather affecting polling stations in Florida, Oklahoma and Colorado. The powerful thunderstorms even resulted in a tornado touching down in Keyes, Oklahoma, forcing the relocation of a polling station. The tornado caused extensive damage, although no causalities have been reported. Officials across many states have requested federal funding assistance after the extreme weather resulted in widespread damage to homes and infrastructure.
Across the Atlantic, a number of authorities in the Mediterranean regions of southern France, Corsica and Sardinia issued severe flood warnings this week, as an area of low pressure caused thunderstorms and torrential rain. As much as 50-100mm (2-4in) of rain is expected over the coming days with more localised totals in excess of 100mm possible in the southern French regions of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Occitanie, as well as Corsica. Where torrential rain is most prolonged, up to 70-80mm of rain could fall within a 24-hour period. More rain is expected next week as low pressure continues to dominate the region.
