1. Central United States and South-Central Canada:

UNUSUALLY DRY CONDITIONS PREVAIL

Little or no precipitation fell on most of the central and eastern United States and south-central and southeastern portions of Canada as abnormally dry weather dominated the two nations. Fewer than 200 mm of precipitation has accumulated during the last 13 weeks, yielding moisture shortages of 50 to 250 mm [DRY - Up to 14 weeks].

2. South America:

EXTENSIVE WARM ANOMALY PERSISTS

Weekly departures of +2°C to +4°C dominated South America from central Argentina northward to the Caribbean Sea. Highs were in the thirties (°C) across the whole region, except at the higher elevations of the Andes. The mercury remained above 20°C from southern Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia northward to the Caribbean [WARM - Up to 10 weeks].

3. Southern and Central Europe:

COLD ANOMALY DEVELOPS

Temperatures averaged 2°C to 5°C below normal across most of central and southern Europe, with weekly departures of -4°C to -8°C reported in east-central Europe. Subfreezing lows dominated the entire region, with readings below -20°C in much of eastern Europe and at higher elevations of the Alps in western Europe [COLD - 2 weeks].

4. Northeastern Europe:

COLD AIR REMAINS ENTRENCHED

Bitterly cold weather, characterized by weekly departures of -3°C to -6°C, dominated northern Scandinavia and the northern portions of European Russia during the past week. Lows generally ranged from -20°C to -30°C. The mercury failed to reach freezing, except along the southwestern fringes of the region [COLD - Up to 4 weeks].

5. Southern Africa:

VERY DRY WEATHER PERSISTS

Most of Zimbabwe, Botswana, and northern South Africa received less than 25 mm of rain last week while scattered moderate rain showers delivered 25 to 100 mm to southeastern and northeastern portions of Botswana and adjacent parts of Zimbabwe and South Africa. Between October 20, 2002 and January 18, 2003 precipitation totaled 100 to 400 mm, yielding shortfalls of 50 to 175 mm [DRY - Up to 12 weeks].

6. Southern Asia:

COLD WEATHER DOMINATES

Weekly departures of -3°C to -7°C prevailed across northern India, with lows ranging from 1°C to 8°C. The mercury failed to reach 30°C during the past week. According to press reports, several lives were lost due to lack of adequate shelter during the unusually cold conditions [COLD - Up to 4 weeks].

7. South-Central China:

MOISTURE SURPLUSES REMAIN

Little or no precipitation was reported during the past week as favorably dry weather prevailed across southern China. Since November 24, the region has received 100 to 300 mm of precipitation, resulting in short-term moisture excesses of 50 to 220 mm [WET - Up to 10 weeks].

8. Northwestern Australia:

UNUSUALLY HIGH TEMPERATURES REPORTED

Temperatures averaged 2°C to 6°C above normal during the past week, with highs ranging from 39°C to 45°C [WARM - Up to 3 weeks].

9. North-Central Australia:

UNUSUALLY COOL CONDITIONS DEVELOP

Temperatures averaged 3°C to 5°C below normal during the past week, with lows approaching 19°C [COLD - 2 weeks].

10. Central and Eastern Australia:

STILL VERY DRY

Little or no rain fell on most of the region, except for 25 to 100 mm in western Queensland and northern portions of the Northern Territory as tropical summer rains pushed southward. During the last 13 weeks, fewer than 100 mm of rain fell on the interior portions of Australia, and less than 250 mm accumulated at coastal locations. Moisture deficits for the last 3 months generally ranged from 50 to 150 mm, but reached as high as 340 mm at coastal locations in northeastern Australia [DRY - Up to 17 weeks].