At that time the continents were being pulled apart by tectonic forces continuing their migration that started during the Triassic Period. New oceans were formed in rift zones similar to today’s Rift Valley of East Africa and globally the weather was very warm and humid. The ice caps had totally melted, even on Antarctica, causing a worldwide rise in sea levels. The middle of the continent, North America was at relatively low elevation relative to the world’s oceans and was thus covered by a body of water separating the continent in two separate land masses.