Unseasonable weather across the US by Laura Gilchrist
A range of unseasonable weather types affected the USA last week, both welcome and unwelcome.
Tornadoes and severe thunderstorms were reported from several states on Thursday and Friday. In Missouri at least 100 homes were damaged when two tornadoes struck the town of St James, 86 miles (138 km) southwest of St Louis. A factory and a supermarket distribution centre were also damaged, and around half the population were left without power. Tornadoes can happen at any time of the year in the US, but through the Great Plains in particular they are most common during springtime.
The weather system that helped generate the severe thunderstorms had earlier brought snow to parts of the Rocky Mountains, west of the Plains. Ski resorts in Colorado were overjoyed when up to 60 cm (2 feet) of snow fell in places, almost exactly two months ahead of the official opening of the winter ski season. Despite the excitement, the snow had come just a little too early for the town of Snowmass. The resort, part of the Aspen ski area, had to cancel of the 28th running of their half-marathon because snow was hiding the tree roots and rocks that would pose a threat to the runners.
In California lower temperatures would be a blessing for residents under threat from wildfires burning in several parts of the state, and a relief for the firefighters trying to contain the blazes. Wildfires are common throughout many parts of the US during summer, and are exacerbated by hot, dry weather. Strong winds can worsen the fires by fanning the flames, and this is what the Californian firefighters fear could happen this weekend. The wind known locally as the Santa Ana is a hot, dry wind that blows across California from the east. It is most common in late autumn and winter, but is forecast to affect the state until Sunday.
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