Over the last few days, the central and northern US has experienced one of its most notable February heatwaves ever, as many February temperature records tumbled.
Half a dozen states recorded their highest February temperature, as did more than 130 towns and cities, including Minneapolis, Milwaukee, St Louis and Detroit.
Monday and Tuesday were the warmest days with many states in the upper midwest breaking their February, and in many cases, winter temperature records. A high of 27C was recorded in Springfield, Illinois; 24C in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; 23C in Flint, Michigan, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and 34C in Abilene, Texas.
This heat was as much as 20C above normal for the time of year, and crossed the border into southern Canada as Quebec recorded its highest February temperature.
The unseasonably warm weather has contributed to the rapid development of the Smokehouse Creek fire, which has burned more than 445,000 hectares (1.1m acres) north of the city of Amarillo. This has made it the largest wildfire in Texas history, surpassing the Amarillo Complex fire, which burned 364,000 hectares in 2006. The current fire is now the second largest wildfire in recorded US history.
The record-breaking heat was quickly replaced by a cold blast as a strong front caused a dramatic drop in temperatures across the central US, with Kansas City going from 23C at 2pm on Tuesday to -1C by 8pm.
In Fargo, North Dakota, the temperature dropped from 16C on Monday – its second highest recorded in February – to -14C on Tuesday with a windchill of -29C and heavy snow. Wisconsin experienced its greatest 24-hour temperature change on record, moving from 21C on Tuesday afternoon to -12C on Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile across the Atlantic, heavy rain affected many parts of France, with most departments, apart from those in the far south-east, being placed on a yellow alert for rainfall. Seven departments, spread across northern and south-west France, were later placed on an orange alert, meaning the rain brought a risk to life, property and transport.
Many roads were closed due to flooding across the country, causing widespread travel disruption. And one town in northern France – Bourthes in the Pas-De-Calais – was submerged for the fifth time in four months.
