1. North-Central and Northeastern United States:

WINTRY CONDITIONS PREVAIL

Lake effect snows continued to bury the lee of the Great Lakes. Since the beginning of January, Buffalo, NY has received almost 134 cm of snow. Late in the week, a winter storm dumped 10 to 42 cm of snow on east-central New England. Meanwhile, a significant ice storm glazed the Washington, DC metropolitan area, causing widespread power outages [Episodic Events]. Temperatures averaged 3°C to 7°C below normal across the Great Lakes and New England while departures of -1°C to -3°C prevailed in the remainder of the region [COLD - 2 to 4 weeks].

2. Southeastern Europe and Southwestern Asia:

UNSEASONABLY MILD WEATHER CONTINUES

Temperatures were 3°C to 7°C above normal, with locally higher departures of up to +10°C in Syria and Iran. Highs reached 20°C at Antalya, Turkey (31°N) and 25°C at Hama, Syria (35°N) [WARM - 2 to 12 weeks].

3. The Middle East:

RAINS EVADE REGION

Generally less than 20 mm of precipitation were recorded last week, except for isolated showers yielding 10 to 20 mm in southwestern Syria and 20 to 60 mm in southwestern Iran. Short-term (December 1 - January 16) moisture shortages of 50 to 253 mm were limited to the eastern Mediterranean Coast and to northwestern Iran [DRY - 8 to 16 weeks].

4. Kenya and Tanzania:

ABNORMAL DRYNESS PERSISTS

Between 10 and 30 mm of rain fell on central Tanzania and central Kenya, but little or none was observed elsewhere. Since December 1, less than 60 mm of rain has fallen on the region, except for 100 to 115 mm at Zanzibar and Mtwara, both in Tanzania [DRY - 5 to 16 weeks].

5. Southeastern Africa:

EXCESSIVE RAINS CONTINUE

Heavy thunderstorms brought 80 to 250 mm of rain to central and southern Mozambique, eastern Zimbabwe, and extreme northeastern South Africa while 20 to 80 mm were reported elsewhere. Precipitation excesses of 100 to 500 mm have accumulated across the region since the beginning of December [WET - 5 to 12 weeks].

6. Northeastern Asia:

STILL UNUSUALLY MILD

Weekly departures of +6°C to +14°C dominated eastern Siberia, with highs approaching, but not quite reaching, 0°C at several locations. Meanwhile, temperatures averaged 3°C to 8°C above normal in Manchuria, but the mercury remained below freezing throughout the week [WARM - 2 to 4 weeks].

7. Central and Southern Japan:

MOISTURE DEFICITS REMAIN

Fewer than 20 mm of precipitation fell on the region, except for 50 to 200 mm along coastal sections facing the Sea of Japan. Moisture deficits since December 1 ranged from 50 to 200 mm [DRY - 5 to 7 weeks].

8. Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Northern Australia:

MORE HEAVY RAINS

Torrential rains deluged central Vietnam (80 to 200 mm), eastern Sumatra (80 to 150 mm), Java (70 to 200 mm), Borneo and Sarawak (60 to 200 mm), and coastal sections of northern Australia (100 to 450 mm). Since the beginning of December, precipitation excesses dominated Vietnam (100 to 215 mm), Indonesia (100 to 400 mm), northern Australia (50 to 550 mm), and Malaysia (100 to 765 mm) [WET - 4 to 21 weeks].