NEW YORK, NY — Parts of eastern North America are seeing an unusually warm burst of weather just as autumn is taking hold. Temperatures climbed to nearly 23C, or 73F, in New York and Boston, running about 7C to 10C above what is typical in early November.
The mild air also spread into eastern Canada, where some places topped 20C, or 68F. That is about 10C to 15C above seasonal norms and amounts to a very late stretch of summerlike conditions for the region.
Low pressure in the Midwest is pulling warm air north
Forecasters say the warm spell is being driven by an area of low pressure over the U.S. Midwest. On its eastern side, the system has been drawing unusually warm air north from the Gulf of Mexico, helping temperatures surge far above average across the Northeast.
That setup is not expected to last. As the low-pressure system gradually shifts east, temperatures are forecast to slide back toward more normal early-November levels. The change will reduce the brief summerlike feel that has settled over the region in recent days.
Severe thunderstorms trigger flood warnings across several states
The same storm pattern is causing much rougher weather farther south. Severe thunderstorms have prompted numerous flood warnings and evacuation warnings this week across multiple states, with the impact reaching communities well beyond the warm corridor in the Northeast.
Officials have also said the extreme weather has damaged homes and infrastructure on a wide scale. In response, authorities in several states have asked for federal funding assistance to help deal with the aftermath of the storms and flooding.
Tornado in Keyes, Oklahoma forces polling station relocation
One of the most serious incidents occurred in Keyes, Oklahoma, where a tornado touched down and forced the relocation of a polling station. The storm caused extensive damage in the area, adding to a week of disruptive weather linked to the broader low-pressure system.
No casualties have been reported so far. Still, the tornado underscores how quickly the weather pattern has shifted from a warm spell in the Northeast to dangerous storms and local disruption in parts of the central and southern U.S.
Polling places in Florida, Oklahoma, and Colorado were affected
The severe weather has also interfered with voting operations in several states, including Florida, Oklahoma, and Colorado. Polling stations in those states have been affected by the storms, creating complications for election-day logistics in communities dealing with flooding, wind, and heavy rain.
That disruption comes on top of the broader damage reported in storm-hit areas. With flood warnings and evacuation warnings still in place in some places, the weather has created a practical challenge for both local officials and voters trying to keep polling sites open and accessible.
More rain expected as the storm pattern lingers
While the eastern U.S. is on track to cool down, the storm system is not done causing problems elsewhere. More rain is expected as low pressure continues to dominate parts of the affected region, keeping the risk of flooding and new warnings in place through the coming days.
Across the Mediterranean, a similar low-pressure setup is also bringing severe flood warnings to southern France, Corsica, and Sardinia. Forecasters there expect 50mm to 100mm of rain, with some locations possibly seeing even more, but that international weather picture stands apart from the U.S. impacts now unfolding at home.