Weekly Global Climate Highlights Map for February 5, 2000

1. California and Nevada:

UNSEASONABLY WARM WEATHER ABATES
Temperatures were generally less than 3°C above normal; however, highs reached 30°C in extreme southern California and exceeded 20°C as far north as 38°N [WARM - Up to 6 weeks].

2. Northeastern United States:

PRECIPITATION DEFICITS INCREASE AS TRANQUIL CONDITIONS PREVAIL
Fewer than 25 mm of precipitation fell on the Northeast, Great Lakes, and Ohio River Valley as quiet conditions dominated the northeastern quadrant of the country. Short-term (8-week) moisture deficits of 50 to 130 mm accumulated at most locations [DRY - Up to 7 weeks].

3. Northern Europe:

WETNESS EASES
Although moderate to heavy amounts (25 to 40 mm) kept the northern coast of Norway wet, little or no precipitation fell across the remainder of the area. During the last 8 weeks, however, 140 to 375 mm has fallen over the region, yielding moisture excesses of 50 to 200 mm [WET - Up to 6 weeks].

4. Europe and Northwestern Africa:

DRY ANOMALY SHIFTS SOUTHWARD
Despite moderate to heavy amounts in the Alps (25 to 50 mm), precipitation was widely scattered over the remainder of the region. Southern Europe from the Iberian Peninsula eastward to eastern Turkey has generally received less than 100 mm of rain during the last 8 weeks, allowing moisture shortages of 50 to 270 mm to accumulate. Dry conditions also prevailed over Morocco where 8-week precipitation shortfalls range from 60 to 165 mm [DRY - Up to 10 weeks].

5. Senegal and the Gambia:

TEMPERATURES MODERATE
Near normal conditions prevailed, with only a few locations experiencing weekly departures of +2°C to +3°C. Weekly highs generally ranged from 30°C to 35°C [WARM - Ending at 7 weeks].

6. Gulf of Guinea Coast and Western Sahel:

ABNORMALLY COOL WEATHER REPORTED
In sharp contrast to conditions farther west, unseasonably cold air penetrated sub-Saharan Africa, resulting in widespread weekly departures of -2°C to -6°C, with the mercury plummeting to 3°C as far south as Maradi, Niger (13°N) [COLD - Up to 2 weeks].

7. Southeastern Africa:

MORE HEAVY RAINS IN SOUTH AFRICA, FAVORABLY DRY IN ZIMBABWE
Torrential rains (100 to more than 200 mm) drenched northeastern South Africa while light to moderate precipitation (10 to 100 mm) was measured in Zimbabwe. Reliable data for Mozambique were lacking. During the past 8 weeks, between 200 and 670 mm of rain has soaked the region, resulting in moisture excesses of 100 to 360 mm [WET - Up to 14 weeks].

8. Southeastern Asia:

COOL CONDITIONS CONTINUE
Weekly departures of -2°C to -3°C prevailed from China's Guizhou Province southward across Thailand. Lows reached 7°C at Lang Son, Vietnam (22°N)  [COLD - Up to 4 weeks].