1. Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico:
UNUSUALLY MILD CONDITIONS PREVAIL
Temperatures were 2°C to 5°C above normal across much of the Intermountain
region, the desert Southwest, and most of Mexico, with highs exceeding
20°C as far north as southern Nevada and northern Arizona. Lows remained
above freezing across most of southern California, southern Arizona, and
Mexico [WARM - Up to 4 weeks].
2. Eastern and Southern United States:
WINTER STORMS AND BITTERLY COLD WEATHER BATTER SOUTH AND EAST
Sleet, freezing rain, and heavy snow snarled travel, disrupted electrical
power, and forced schools and governments (including the Federal Government)
to shut down, according to press reports. Early in the week, a strong storm
system dumped up to 60 cm of snow on parts of the Southeast and mid-Atlantic
before moving out to sea. A second winter storm system blanketed Oklahoma,
Arkansas, and northern portions of Louisiana and Mississippi with as much
as 30 cm of snow before pelting Atlanta, Georgia with freezing rain, affecting
Super Bowl activities, based on media reports [Episodic Events]. Temperatures
averaged 3°C to 9°C below normal across the region, with the largest
departures reported along the Great Lakes and throughout the mid-Atlantic
and Piedmont. Lows plummeted below -20°C as far south as northern Kentucky,
northwestern Virginia, and southern Maryland while subfreezing temperatures
penetrated central Florida (28°N) [COLD - Up to 2 weeks].
3. Northwestern Venezuela and Northern Colombia:
MOISTURE SURPLUSES REMAIN
Although fewer than 25 mm of rain fell on the region last week, short-term
(8-week) precipitation excesses still ranged from 50 to 200 mm [WET - Up
to 12 weeks].
4. Northern Argentina:
A RELATIVELY DRY WEEK
Widely scattered moderate showers (25 to 100 mm) were reported, but most
of northern Argentina received between 10 and 50 mm of rain. During the
last 8 weeks, 140 to 420 mm of rain soaked the region, yielding moisture
excesses of 50 to 180 mm [WET - Up to 7 weeks].
5. Central South America:
DRY ANOMALY DEVELOPS
Light to moderate rains (10 to 50 mm) fell on parts of Paraguay and southern
Brazil, but short-term (8-week) moisture deficits reached as high as 250
mm in some locations [DRY - Up to 5 weeks].
6. East-Central South America:
WARM ANOMALY DIMINISHES
Temperatures were 1°C to 2°C above normal in western Uruguay and
east-central Argentina, but highs ranged from 30°C to 38°C [WARM
- Ending at 5 weeks].
7. Europe:
DRY CONDITIONS DEVELOP
Although as much as 100 mm of rain fell at some locations, most of the
area reported little or no rain. Much of the region has received less than
100 mm of rain since the beginning of December, yielding moisture shortages
of 75 to 300 mm [DRY - Up to 8 weeks].
8 Eastern Mediterranean:
COLD AIR REMAINS ENTRENCHED
Temperatures were 3°C to 8°C below normal across Greece, Bulgaria,
and Turkey, with the mercury dropping to -14°C at Sofia, Bulgaria (43°N)
[COLD - Up to 4 weeks].
9. Middle East:
WINTER STORMS BATTER REGION
Storms with heavy snow, freezing rain, and strong winds blanketed the Middle
East, disrupting communications and causing numerous traffic accidents
(based on press reports) [Episodic Events].
10. Western Africa:
WARM ANOMALY CONTINUES
Temperatures averaged 2°C to 7°C above normal over almost all of
sub-Saharan West Africa. Temperatures reached as high as 39°C at Man,
Cote D'Ivoire (7°N) and at Natitingou, Benin (10°N) [WARM - Up
to 5 weeks].
11. Northern South Africa
STILL UNSEASONABLY COOL
Temperatures remained 2°C to 3°C below normal across northern South
Africa, with lows dipping below 10°C as far north as 30°S. Highs
failed to reach 30°C at scattered locations throughout the region [COLD
- Up to 3 weeks].
12. Southeastern Africa:
STILL ABNORMALLY WET
Scattered moderate to heavy rains (50 to 200 mm) soaked parts of central
Zimbabwe, northeastern Botswana, and eastern South Africa while 10 to 50
mm dampened the remainder of the region. Between 80 and 480 mm of rain
has fallen on southeastern Africa during the last 8 weeks, resulting in
moisture excesses of 50 to 320 mm [WET - Up to 12 weeks].
13. Central East Asia:
COLD ANOMALY REMAINS
Weekly departures of -3°C to -6°C prevailed over eastern Mongolia
while departures of -2°C to -8°C dominated China from central Nei
Mongol and Liaoning southward to Hunan and Jiangxi. Lows plummeted to -27°C
as far south as Dalanzadgad, Mongolia (44°N) [COLD - Up to 5 weeks].
14. Western Australia:
SUBNORMAL TEMPERATURES PERSIST
Weekly departures of -2°C to -7°C prevailed across most of Western
Australia, with lows dropping below 20°C as far north as 15°S;
however, the mercury climbed above 30°C at most locations [COLD - Up
to 14 weeks].