1. North-Central United States:

DRY SPELL CONTINUES

Little or no precipitation fell on much of the Corn Belt and western Great Lakes region last week. Generally less than 100 mm of precipitation has accumulated since the beginning of December, resulting in precipitation shortfalls of 50 to 250 mm, with the largest deficits in Upper Michigan [DRY - Up to 20 weeks].

2. North America:

COLD ANOMALY EXPANDS, TRIGGERS WINTER STORMS

Bitterly cold air, characterized by temperatures averaging 3°C to 14°C below normal, dominated central and eastern North America. The mercury failed to reach the freezing mark north of 50°N, with readings remaining below -20°C across northern Canada. Subfreezing lows penetrated as far south as interior southern Texas [COLD - Up to 4 weeks]. The cold air triggered winter storms across much of the South and mid-Atlantic. The stormy weather claimed several lives, closed schools, and disrupted transportation in many areas, according to the media [Episodic Events].

3. Northern South America:

STILL UNUSUALLY WARM

Weekly departures ranging from +2°C to +5°C dominated northern South America. Highs were generally above 30°C and lows remained above 20°C, with the exception of southern Peru, where temperatures were about 10°C cooler [WARM - Up to 8 weeks].

4. Iceland and Northern Scandinavia:

UNUSUALLY MILD WEATHER REPORTED

Temperatures were 6°C to 10°C above normal across northern Scandinavia while weekly departures of +2°C to +7°C prevailed across Iceland. The mercury climbed above the freezing mark throughout the region while readings below -20°C were restricted to the interior portions of Norway, Sweden, and Finland [WARM - Up to 3 weeks].

5. Central Europe:

DRY ANOMALY DEVELOPS

Little or no precipitation fell on much of Europe during the past week. Fewer than 15 mm of precipitation fell during the last 4 weeks, with the totals among the lowest 10% of the climatological distribution [DRY - Up to 5 weeks].

6. Southeastern Europe:

COLD AIR REMAINS ENTRENCHED

Weekly departures of -2°C to -10°C dominated southeastern Europe, with the largest negative departures reported in Hungary and the Balkan States. Subfreezing lows covered the entire region, with values ranging from near freezing across the western half of the region to -20 °C in parts of Ukraine [COLD - Up to 5 weeks].

7. Western Sahel:

WARM CONDITIONS DEVELOP

Temperatures averaged 2°C to 4°C above normal across the interior western Sahel, with highs exceeding 40°C at most locations [WARM - Up to 4 weeks].

8. Eastern South Africa:

STILL UNUSUALLY WARM

Temperatures averaged 2°C to 3°C above normal across the region, with highs generally in the thirties (°C) [WARM - Up to 8 weeks].

9. Southeastern Africa:

MOISTURE DEFICITS PERSIST

Little or no rain fell on most of northeastern South Africa while up to 25 mm were reported in southern Zimbabwe. Heavy rains (50 to 200 mm) fell on northern Zimbabwe and at a few scattered locations along the coasts of South Africa and Mozambique. During December, January, and February, 100 to 500 mm of rain accumulated across southeastern Africa, yielding moisture deficits of 70 to 270 mm [DRY - Up to 18 weeks].

10. Northern Japan:

COLD CONDITIONS EVOLVE

Temperatures were generally 2°C to 4°C below normal across northern Japan, with lows ranging from -10°C to -20°C [COLD - 2 weeks].

11. China and Southeastern Asia:

WARM ANOMALY EXPANDS

Weekly departures of +2°C to +11°C dominated much of China and southeastern Asia, with the highest positive departures reported in southwestern China. Highs exceeding 30°C pushed as far north as 27°N while readings climbed above the freezing mark throughout the region. The mercury remained above freezing as far north as 35°N and stayed above -10°C elsewhere [WARM - Up to 4 weeks].

12. Southeastern Australia:

PRECIPITATION DEFICITS REMAIN

Light to moderate rains (10 to 50 mm) fell on much of the eastern portions of New South Wales and Victoria while heavy rains (50 to 200 mm) drenched northeastern New South Wales. Although as much as 560 mm of rain fell on the region during the last 3 months, moisture shortages continued to range from 50 to 250 mm [DRY - Up to 23 weeks].