1. Northwestern United States:
PACIFIC STORM SYSTEMS DELIVER HEAVY PRECIPITATION
Between 100 and 250 mm of precipitation soaked western Washington while
25 to 100 mm fell on northwestern Oregon this past week. Since late October,
moisture surpluses of 100 to 200 mm have accumulated across the region,
with locally higher excesses of 200 to over 600 mm in orographically-favored
locations [WET - Up to 7 weeks].
2. New England and Southeastern Canada:
UNSEASONABLY MILD WEATHER PERSISTS
Weekly departures of +3°C to +6°C dominated New England and the
Canadian Maritimes while temperatures averaged 6°C to 14°C above
normal across much of Ontario, Quebec, and Labrador. The mercury climbed
above freezing as far north as the central portions of Ontario and Quebec
and southern sections of Labrador (approximately 55°N) [WARM - Up to
8 weeks].
3. Venezuela:
TORRENTIAL RAINS CAUSE SEVERE FLOODING
The media indicated that heavy precipitation triggered landslides and engendered
disastrous flooding in Venezuela, where reliable precipitation data are
lacking [Episodic Event].
4. Central South America:
COLD ANOMALY DIMINISHES
Temperatures were generally within 3°C of normal last week, except
at a few locations where weekly departures approached -4°C. Subfreezing
lows were restricted to the higher elevations of west-central Bolivia.
[COLD - Ending at 8 weeks].
5. East-Central South America:
RAINS BRING LIMITED RELIEF
Light to moderate rain (10 to 50 mm) dampened northwestern Uruguay, northern
Argentina, and adjacent parts of Paraguay during the past week; however,
8-week moisture shortages of 100 to 200 mm continued to dominate the region
[DRY - Up to 15 weeks].
6. British Isles:
WETNESS DEVELOPS
Abundant rains (25 to 90 mm) again soaked much of Ireland and the western
portions of Great Britain. As much as 450 mm has fallen in the last 8 weeks,
yielding moisture surpluses of up to 150 mm [WET - Up 5 to weeks].
7. Extreme Western Africa:
WARM CONDITIONS CONTINUE
Temperatures again averaged 1°C to 3°C above normal across Senegal,
Gambia, and Guinea, with highs exceeding 40°C at some locations [WARM
- Up to 5 weeks].
8. Southern Africa:
WETNESS PREVAILS
Relatively heavy rains (20 to 80 mm, which is 500% to 1000% of normal for
the week) again doused much of Namibia [WET - Up to 6 weeks].
9. Southeastern Asia:
ANOTHER TROPICAL DEPRESSION BRINGS MORE RAIN
Southern Vietnam and extreme southern Thailand were inundated with torrential
rain (80 to 260 mm) from Tropical Depression 33W. Amounts of 250
to 1350 mm have accumulated during the last 8 weeks, resulting in moisture
excesses of 150 to 650 mm [WET - Up to 11 weeks].
10. Northwestern Australia:
TROPICAL CYCLONES DELIVER HEAVY RAIN
Two tropical cyclones, Ilsa and John, brought heavy rains and strong, gusty
winds to the northwestern portion of Western Australia. Although Tropical
Cyclone John was packing sustained winds of 240 kph, with gusts approaching
300 kph, the storm rapidly weakened after landfall and caused minimal damage,
according to the media. Torrential rains of 100 to possibly 500 mm drenched
northwestern Western Australia while weekly totals diminished rapidly to
25 to 50 mm as the remnants penetrated the country [Episodic Events].
11. Australia:
UNUSUALLY COOL CONDITIONS RETURN
Temperatures averaged 3°C to 6°C below normal across much of the
interior of Australia, with weekly departures approaching -7°C at Wiitenoom,
Western Australia (22°S). The mercury dropped below 20°C as far
north as central Western Australia and southern Northern Territory, and
readings dropped below freezing at a few mountain locations in Tasmania,
eastern Victoria, and northeastern New South Wales [COLD - Up to 8 weeks].