‘I was stuck for nine hours’: Dozens of drivers stranded on impassable roads west of London, Ont. - CP24

The helicopter quickly lowered one of the rescuers down to the victim who took refuge on top of the toppled vehicle, almost entirely submerged in floodwaters. TONOPAH, Ariz. – A disaster scenario unfolded for one driver traveling through Central Arizona on Wednesday after becoming stranded in floodwaters following severe storms in the region. The driver of a truck near the Hassayampa River in Tonopah, Arizona, needed a helicopter rescue because of the complex situation and strong floodwaters. This comes as the area experienced heavy rain that helped fuel a flood threat, and the driver fell victim to the flooding while on the road. "If you encounter a flooded roadway, find an alternate route and never drive around barricades," said the Arizona Fire and Medical Authority. The helicopter quickly lowered one of the rescuers down to the victim who took refuge on top of the toppled vehicle, almost entirely submerged in floodwaters. Car becomes stuck in heavy floodwaters in Arizona. (azfiremedical / Instgram)TIMELINE: WHEN WILL DANGEROUS, TROPICALLY ENHANCED FLOODING REACH THE SOUTHWEST, SOUTHERN PLAINS AND MIDWEST?

The next fall nor’easter is brewing off the North Carolina coast, setting the stage for extensive impacts throughout the week. The National Hurricane Center is now highlighting this area for potential tropical development, with a 30% chance over the next seven days. WHAT IS A NOR’EASTER? Regardless of tropical development, the Outer Banks are expected to see long-term impacts, including intense wind gusts from the approaching nor’easter, while the storm sits off the coast. The main concern for the Outer Banks region will be intense wind gusts as strong as 40 to 60 mph, fueling moderate coastal flooding and destructive waves. A mandatory evacuation for locals on Hatteras Island is in effect, as storm conditions are expected to worsen, with the potential for significant ocean overwash. This graphic shows the Wind Alerts for the upcoming Nor’easter.(FOX Weather) According to the FOX Forecast Center, the impacts will last through late Wednesday evening and into Thursday, totaling three days of nasty storms with ferocious wind gusts.

Toronto and Montreal have remained above the freezing mark every day for almost six months. While frosts and even some snowflakes have intruded across parts of Ontario and Quebec in recent weeks, the two cities have yet to reach that magic number. What’s even more remarkable is that a handful of communities across the southern United States have already dipped to the freezing point--and some have even seen accumulating snowfall. DON’T MISS: Official: Canada records first -30°C reading of the seasonThe last time we saw a freezing temperature in either Toronto or Montreal was the second-to-last week of April. Toronto hit -1.3°C early on April 20, while Montreal dipped to -2.0°C the following morning. Our average first frost in both cities occurs right around the middle of October. But warmer-than-normal years can see this milestone slide several weeks past due. Montreal once had to wait 207 consecutive days for its first frost, with the city’s first subfreezing temperature in 2017 waiting until Nov. 7. The latest Toronto’s had to wait to hit the zero-degree mark was Nov. 13, 2022.

Tropical cyclones top the list of nature’s most powerful storms. Larger than tornadoes and more intense than any single thunderstorm, these systems can change the landscape when they swirl ashore. A handful of tropical cyclones take full advantage of their surroundings to achieve the apex of their potential, the strongest storms nature can produce. DON’T MISS: What’s the difference between hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones? Tiny fraction of storms achieve upper limitsOnly about 4 per cent of all the world’s recorded tropical cyclones have reached the equivalent of Category 5 strength. Most tropical cyclones are relatively weak and short lived because it’s tough for all the necessary ingredients to align just right. But explosive development can result when all those factors come together in perfect harmony. Strongest Winds: Hurricane PatriciaAn exceptionally favourable setup off the western shores of Mexico in late-Oct. 2015 allowed Hurricane Patricia to grow into the world’s strongest hurricane since reliable observations began in 1966.

While there have been some weather hiccups in October across Canada, one commonality is the lack of fall storms. The month has brought a very different flavour to parts of the country, compared to September's weather. October started with summer-like warmth in Ontario and Quebec, while the West endured some chilly temperatures. That pattern has since flipped. But there haven't been many of your typical fall storms this season, making for a super-dry pattern in many areas in Canada. Let’s dive into why the storms are absent so far. DON'T MISS: What does a classic fall storm look like in your part of Canada? What fuels fall storms? A split flow, in which the jet stream literally splits in two, will prove a prominent feature during the second half of October, promoting a less-consolidated jet stream that would otherwise impact the coast of British Columbia throughout autumn. Some of that energy is being redirected down toward California, a change that’s significantly affecting our weather patterns across Canada.