Weekly Global Climate Highlights Map for April 29, 2000

1. Central United States:

SHORT-TERM MOISTURE DEFICITS REPORTED
Except for a few scattered showers (25 to 50 mm) in east-central Oklahoma and west-central Arkansas, fewer than 25 mm of rain fell on Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and northwestern Arkansas. Between March 5 and April 29, precipitation shortfalls of 50 to 200 mm accumulated across Missouri, eastern Kansas, eastern Oklahoma, and northern Arkansas [DRY - Up to 6 weeks].

2. Northeastern United States:

PRECIPITATION SURPLUSES DOMINATE
Between 25 and 50 mm of rain fell on the southern and central Appalachians and most of central and eastern New England while fewer than 25 mm fell elsewhere. Since early March, 90 to 515 mm of precipitation has fallen on the region, yielding moisture surpluses of 50 to 100 mm, with locally higher excesses in northern Alabama, including Birmingham (256 mm) and  Huntsville (131 mm) [WET - Up to 7 weeks].

3. East-Central South America:

RAINFALL ABATES, BUT SHORT-TERM MOISTURE EXCESSES PREVAIL
Scattered moderate showers (25 to 100 mm) were limited to southern Santa Fe and northern Buenos Aires provinces of east-central Argentina while little or no precipitation was reported elsewhere. Short-term (8-week) moisture surpluses remained as high as 175 mm in central Uruguay and 285 mm in east-central Argentina [WET - Up to 7 weeks].

4. Western Europe:

STORMS BRING HEAVY RAIN
Thunderstorms swept across western Europe bringing moderate to heavy rains (20 to 125 mm) to the British Isles, France, and the northern Iberian Peninsula. Since the beginning of March, moisture excesses of 50 to 250 mm have accumulated across the region [WET - Up to 6 weeks].

5. Northern Europe:

WETNESS CONTINUES
Wet conditions (15 to 40 mm) again prevailed across northern Scandinavia and northwestern Russia southward into Belarus. During the past 8 weeks, 100 to 340 mm of precipitation has fallen on the region, which are short-term departures of 50 to 110 mm [WET - Up to 8 weeks].

6. Central Europe:

WETNESS REMAINS
Showers of 15 to 40 mm kept parts of Hungary, northern Yugoslavia and northwestern Romania wet. Since the start of March, up to 160 mm of precipitation were reported, yielding surpluses of up to 60 mm [WET - Up to 14 weeks].

7. Europe and Asia:

EXTENSIVE WARM ANOMALY DEVELOPS
Temperatures averaged 3°C to 10°C above normal across eastern Europe and most of Asia while weekly departures of  +2°C to +6°C prevailed across northern and southeastern Europe. The mercury soared above 30°C as far north as northwestern Kazakhstan and adjacent parts of Russia while readings climbed above 20°C as far north as 63°N in northeastern European Russia. Lows failed to reach freezing during the week as far north as the Baltic States and extreme southern Scandinavia (about 60°N) [WARM - Up to 4 weeks].

8. Western Africa:

HIGH TEMPERATURES PERSIST
Temperatures were 1°C to 5°C above normal, and highs soared above 40°C across much of the region, reaching 44°C in Senegal and Mauritania [WARM - Up to 9 weeks].

9. Southeastern Africa:

WET ANOMALY ENDS, BUT SHORT-TERM MOISTURE SURPLUSES REMAIN
Little or no rain again last week signaled the end of prolonged wetness across the region; however, 8-week precipitation departures ranged from +50 to +220 mm [WET - Ended at 25 weeks].

10. East-Central Africa:

MORE VERY DRY WEATHER
Little or no rain fell on Ethiopia and Kenya, except for isolated showers (50 to 200 mm) in extreme western Kenya. Although as much as 230 mm fell on the region during the last 8 weeks, moisture deficits ranged from 50 to 315 mm [DRY - Up to 14 weeks].

11. Southwestern Asia:

LITTLE OR NO RAIN REPORTED
Except for isolated showers (up to 50 mm) in northern Oman, eastern Syria, and southeastern Turkey, scanty precipitation (less than 25 mm) prevailed across the region. Short-term (March 5 - April 29) moisture deficits reached 170 mm in northwestern Syria, 135 mm in Lebanon, and 110 mm in northern Iran [DRY - Up to 10 weeks].

12. East-Central China:

DRYNESS PERSISTS
Little or no rain again fell over east central China from northern Sichuan and southern Gansu Provinces eastward to the Yellow Sea. The region has received less than 150 mm of rain since March 5, allowing mositure deficits to reach as high as 160 mm [DRY - Up to 10 weeks].

13. Southeastern China :

HEAVY RAINS AGAIN DOUSE REGION
Very heavy rains (50 to 2000 mm) soaked much of southeastern China from Guangdong northeastward to Zhejiang. During the last 8 weeks, 150 to 600 mm has fallen over a good portion of the area, which are precipitation excesses of 50 to 300 mm [WET - Up to 6 weeks].

14. Southeastern Asia and the Philippines:

RAINS CONTINUE
Thunderstorms again brought moderate to very heavy rains (25 to 200 mm) to Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, southern Vietnam, and the Philippines. Since March 5, amounts of 130 to 625 mm have soaked the region, resulting in moisture surpluses of 60 to 400 mm [WET - Up to 15 weeks].

15. Northern Half of Australia:

ABNORMAL WETNESS SHIFTS EASTWARD
Torrential rains (100 to 500 mm) drenched the northern and eastern Queensland coasts while abundant rains (up to 100 mm) fell on the interior sections of northern and eastern Queensland and the northern part of Northern Territory. Elsewhere, fewer than 25 mm were reported. Between 100 and 700 mm of rain has fallen on the northern half of Australia during the last 8 weeks, generating precipitation excesses of up to 340 mm [WET - Up to 15 weeks].

16. Central Australia:

COOL WEATHER RETURNS
Temperatures averaged 3°C to 5°C below normal in northeastern Western Australia and central Northern Territory while departures of -1°C to -3°C dominated Australia from 15°S to 30°S. The mercury dropped below 10°C at Giles Meteorological Station (25°S) and approached 15°C as far south as 20°S [COLD - 2 weeks].