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Unusually warm weather is already attracting water sports enthusiasts in the Midwest: boats on Smithville Lake, Missouri

Photo: Charlie Riedel / AP

Summer temperatures in the middle of winter: New heat records were set in several cities in the USA and Canada in the month of February.

In Saint Louis in the Midwestern US state of Missouri, the thermometer reached 30 degrees Celsius on Tuesday - the highest temperature ever recorded this month.

In Montreal, Canada, an unusually warm 15 degrees Celsius was measured for this time of year.

However, the warm weather that extends across much of the northeastern United States will not last long.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), a rapid drop in temperature is expected soon: by Wednesday morning, temperatures will even drop below freezing point.

For the metropolis of Chicago, for example, where people could still enjoy a summery 21 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, the NWS summarized the weather situation with the words that summer, spring, autumn and winter merged into one another “within 24 hours”.

Similar temperature fluctuations are expected for the central United States.

This also includes warnings about possible storms.

While in Minneapolis-St., which is otherwise used to snow.

Paul in Minnesota was still a summery 18 degrees on Monday, but the city's residents had to prepare for heavy snowstorms on Tuesday.

According to the US ocean agency NOAA and the European earth observation program Copernicus, last month was the warmest January ever recorded worldwide.

Experts attribute the violent temperature fluctuations to climate change and the El Niño weather phenomenon.

It is likely that climate change will increase the impact of El Niño.

Devastating wildfires in Texas

In the US state of Texas, unusually high temperatures and strong winds are encouraging the rapid spread of bush fires: Governor Greg Abbott declared a disaster for 60 communities on Tuesday so that aid can be better coordinated centrally.

The fires in the north of the state threatened inhabited areas that had to be evacuated.

“Texans are urged to limit activities that could generate sparks and take precautions to ensure the safety of their loved ones,” the governor warned.

By Tuesday, the fire had nearly doubled in size.

According to media reports, the fire has burned more than 780 square kilometers of land in 24 hours and is spreading quickly.

Abbott expects weather conditions in the region will not improve in the coming days - and the wildfires could become even larger and more dangerous.

OK/AFP