Weekly Global Climate Highlights Map for April 1, 2000

1. Hawaiian Islands:

RAINS BRING LIMITED RELIEF
Moderate to heavy showers (25 to 100 mm) eased the dryness on the Hawaiian Islands. Since early February, up to 150 mm of rain has fallen on the archipelago, resulting in moisture shortages of 80 to 500 mm [DRY - Up to 10 weeks].

2. Midwestern United States:

STILL VERY DRY
Fewer than 30 mm of precipitation fell on the region during the past week as abnormally dry weather dominated. Between February 6 and April 1, only 25 to 150 mm of precipitation has fallen on the Corn Belt, Ohio Valley, and Great Lakes, allowing moisture deficits of 50 to 150 mm to accumulate [DRY - Up to 8 weeks].

3. Southeastern United States:

SCATTERED SHOWERS DAMPEN SOUTHEAST
Moderate to heavy rains (25 to locally 200 mm) were reported in southeastern Louisiana, southwestern Alabama, southern Georgia, and the northern and southeastern portions of Florida. Little or no precipitation fell elsewhere. Although as much as 250 mm of rain has fallen on the region during the last 8 weeks, moisture shortages of 50 to 200 mm continued to dominate the Southeast [DRY - Up to 12 weeks].

4. Central South America:

WET WEATHER EASES
Moderate showers dropped 25 to 100 mm of rain on southern Mato Grosso, extreme eastern Mato Grosso do Sul, and Goias states in central Brazil while similar totals dampened parts of eastern Bolivia. Weekly rainfall totals elsewhere were generally less than 25 mm. During the last 8 weeks, 200 to over 700 mm of rain has fallen on central Brazil, pushing mositure excesses into the 100 to 320 mm range [WET - Up to 10 weeks].

5. Central Europe:

MODERATE PRECIPITATION CONTINUES IN SOUTHERN PORTIONS, FAVORABLY DRY ELSEWHERE
As much as 100 mm of precipitation soaked southern Germany, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, and Austria while less than 25 were reported elsewhere. Short-term (8-week) moisture surpluses of 100 to 200 mm were limited to the Alps, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and southwestern Poland. The remainder of the region received little or no rain this past week, and short-term moisture surpluses remained below 100 mm [WET - Up to 11 weeks].

6. The Azores and the Western and Central Mediterranean:

MODERATE RAINS FALL ON THE AZORES; LITTLE OR NONE ELSEWHERE
Dry weather dominated southern Europe and northern Africa from the Atlantic eastward to Tunisia and western Greece, but light to moderate rains (950 to 100 mm) brought some relief to the Azores. During the last 8 weeks, precipitation totals of up to 150 mm were measured in southern Europe, but accumulations were below 50 mm during the same period in northwestern Africa. Precipitation shortfalls during the 8 weeks ranged from 50 to 150 mm at most locations, with locally higher moisture deficits of up to 300 mm [DRY - Up to 16 weeks].

7. Central Africa:

PRECIPITATION DEFICITS DOMINATE THE REGION
Although as much as 100 mm of rain fell on Gabon, most of central Africa received fewer than 25 mm. Short-term (8-week) moisture deficits of 100 to almost 370 mm prevailed across the region [DRY - Up to 10 weeks].

8. Southern Africa:

MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINS PERSIST
Precipitation totaled 25 to 100 mm across the region during the past week, with locally heavier amounts approaching 200 mm in east-central Zimbabwe and northeastern South Africa. Since early February 150 to 530 mm of rain has fallen on the region, resulting in moisture excesses of up to 420 mm in South Africa, 310 mm in Zimbabwe, and 200 mm in Namibia [WET - Up to 21 weeks].

9. East-Central China:

VERY DRY WEATHER PREVAILS
Isolated moderate showers (25 to 50 mm) dampened extreme southern Shanxi and extreme western Henan while little or no precipitation was observed elsewhere. Since early February, less than 50 mm of rain accumulated across the region, yielding mositure deficits of 50 to 100 mm to accumulate [DRY - Up to 6 weeks].

10. Malaysia and the Philippines:

MORE TORRENTIAL RAINS
Heavy showers and thunderstorms delivered 100 to 500 mm of rain to eastern peninsular Malaysia and the islands of Samar and western Mindanao in the Philippines while 25 to 100 mm were recorded elsewhere. During the last 8 weeks, precipitation totals in the Philippines reached 1400 mm on Samar, 950 mm on Mindanao, and 825 mm on Luzon, resulting in moisture excesses as high as 960 mm, 790 mm, and 515 mm on each island respectively. Precipitation surpluses elsewhere were in the 100 to 400 mm range [WET - Up to 11 weeks].

11. Western Australia:

FAVORABLY DRY CONDITIONS REPORTED
Although 25 to 100 mm of rain fell on interior central Western Australia, most of the province received fewer than 25 mm. Short-term (8-week) precipitation totals ranged from 100 mm in southern sections to 700 mm in the northern portions of Western Australia, yielding rainfall surpluses of 50 to 430 mm [WET - Up to 11 weeks].

12. Southwestern Australia:

UNUSUALLY COOL CONDITIONS CONTINUE
Temperatures averaged 2°C to 5°C below normal again this past week, with lows dropping below 20°C across the entire region, and reaching 11°C as far north as Belgair (31°S). The mercury remained below 30°C as far north as 25°S in interior Western Australia, and failed to reach 30°C at locations south of 30°S [COLD - Up to 8 weeks].