Weekly Global Climate Highlights Map for April 22, 2000

1. Southern Quebec:

LATE-SEASON COLD SNAP
Weekly mean temperatures were 2°C to 5°C below normal across southern Quebec, with subfreezing lows at most locations. The mercury reached -20°C as far south as Schefferville (55°N) [COLD - 2 weeks].

2. Northeastern United States:

ABNORMAL WETNESS PREVAILS
Between 50 and 100 mm of rain fell from eastern Iowa eastward across northern Illinois and southern Michigan and from the Appalachians of Pennsylvania and West Virginia eastward to the Atlantic Seaboard.  Lesser amounts (10 to 50 mm) were recorded elsewhere. The rains eased dryness in the eastern Corn Belt and generated 8-week mositure surpluses of 50 to 100 mm across the mid-Atlantic [WET - Up to 6 weeks].

3. East-Central South America:

UNUSUALLY WET WEATHER RETURNS
Torrential rains (100 to 200 mm) soaked eastern Uruguay and eastern La Pampa province of Argentina while moderate to heavy precipitation (25 to 100 mm) fell on the remainder of the region. Short-term (February 27 to April 22) rainfall totals ranged from 100 to 530 mm, resulting in moisture surpluses of 50 to 270 mm over the 8-week period [WET - Up to 6 weeks].

4. Northern Europe:

WETNESS CONTINUES
Relatively wet weather (15 to 30 mm, with amounts of up to 80 mm along the coast of Norway) again prevailed across northern Scandinavia and the northwestern corner of Russia. During the last 8 weeks, 100 to 260 mm has fallen over the region, resulting in moisture excesses of 50 to 105 mm [WET - Up to 7 weeks].

5. Central Europe:

WETNESS EASES
Except for widely scattered showers of up to 30 mm, dry weather ended the wet conditions extending from Hungary and northern Yugoslavia northeastward across Belarus into Russia. Since the end of February, amounts of 100 to 190 mm  have accumulated, with precipitation surpluses ranging from 50 to 135 mm [WET - Ended at 13 weeks].

6. Western Africa:

HIGH TEMPERATURES PERSIST
Temperatures averaged 2°C to 5°C above normal across western Mauritania, Senegal, and the Gambia, with highs ranging from 40°C to 45°C at most locations [WARM - Up to 8 weeks].

7. Southeastern Africa:

FAVORABLY DRY WEATHER CONTINUES
Generally 10 to 50 mm of rain fell on the region as relatively quiet weather prevailed across the region; however, 8-week moisture surpluses still ranged from 50 to 200 mm [WET - Ended at 24 weeks].

8. East-Central Africa:

DRYNESS DOMINATES REGION
Little or no rain was reported across Kenya, and dryness continued in most of Ethiopia, where reliable data are lacking. Short-term moisture deficits were as high as 260 mm [DRY - Up to 13 weeks].

9. Southwestern Asia:

DRY WEATHER AGAIN PREVAILS
Dry conditions continued from Iran eastward to northern Pakistan and western Kashmir. Since the end of February, less than 60 mm has fallen in the area, yielding moisture shortages of 50 to 90 mm [DRY - Up to 9 weeks].

10. East-Central Asia:

DRYNESS REMAINS
Little or no rain again fell on east-central Asia from China's northern Sichuan and southern Gansu Provinces eastward to the Yellow Sea, and the southwestern corner of South Korea. Most of the region has received less than 100 mm of rain since February 27,  with precipitation shortfalls as large as 125 mm in China, and 170 mm in South Korea [DRY - Up to 9 weeks].

11. Philippines and Southeastern Asia:

STILL VERY WET
Moderate to heavy rains (50 to 200 mm) drenched Thailand, central Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Locally heavier amounts (200 to 500 mm) inundated south-central Thailand and northeastern Borneo. Since the end of February, precipitation totals (and departures) ranged from 400 to 800 mm (+50 to +600 mm) in Malaysia, 100 to 850 mm (+70 to +480 mm) in the Philippines, 100 to 600 mm (+50 to +500 mm) in Thailand, and 100 to 300 mm (+60 to +140 mm) in Vietnam [WET - Up to 14 weeks].

12. Northwestern Australia:

TROPICAL CYCLONE ROSITA BRINGS MORE RAINS
Heavy rains (100 to 200 mm), fueled by Tropical Cyclone Rosita, drenched northeastern Western Australia and the northwestern and central portions of the Northern Territory. Moisture from the storm penetrated all the way to Alice Springs, where 260 mm of rain was measured. Weekly totals dropped off rapidly away from the main track of the rapidly weakening Rosita and her remnants. During the last 8 weeks, 100 to 800 mm of rain, primarily from tropical storms, has fallen on the region, yielding moisture excesses of 50 to 450 mm [WET - Up to 14 weeks].