Cooler temperatures replace record highs in central and eastern Europe
- Central and eastern Europe have seen temperatures significantly above average since early September, with Estonia recording a date temperature record.
- Western Europe has faced severe thunderstorms, particularly in France, leading to flooding and significant rainfall.
- The weather patterns indicate a return to seasonal averages for much of Europe, while the Indian monsoon and Super Typhoon Yagi are also impacting weather conditions.
Since early September, central and eastern Europe has experienced unusually high temperatures, with some areas reaching up to 10C above the seasonal average. Estonia set a date temperature record of 29.8C in Haapsalu, nearing the historical peak of 30.3C from 1992. However, forecasts indicate a shift towards more typical seasonal temperatures for much of Europe in the coming week, except for the Balkans, which are expected to remain warmer than usual. In western Europe, heavy thunderstorms have caused significant disruptions, particularly in southern, central, and eastern France. On Wednesday, several regions were placed on orange alert due to severe storms, with Marseille experiencing intense rainfall that led to flooding. The city recorded 50-70mm of rain in just 90 minutes, resulting in water depths of 200mm during the worst storms since 2021. Meanwhile, the Indian monsoon season has seen a dramatic increase in rainfall after a drier start, with Telangana and Andhra Pradesh facing severe flooding. The monsoon is expected to continue with heavy downpours, likely resulting in an overall wetter season in 2024. In Asia, Super Typhoon Yagi, which has caused extensive damage in the Philippines, is moving towards China with maximum sustained winds of 130mph. Landfall is anticipated between Qionghai and Dianbai, bringing heavy rainfall and flooding to Guangdong and Hainan, prompting school closures and flight suspensions in preparation for the storm's impact.