1. Western North America:
COOL AIR DRIFTS SOUTHWARD
Weekly departures of -2°C to -5°C prevailed across the western
states and adjacent southwestern Canada while near normal conditions were
reported in Canada and Alaska. Subfreezing lows at higher elevations penetrated
as far south as central Nevada while highs in excess of 30°C were restricted
to California. The cool weather, accompanied by rain, provided welcome
relief to fire fighting crews in Idaho and
Montana, according to the media [COLD - Up to 5 weeks].
2. Central United States:
LATE-SEASON HEAT WAVE DOMINATES CENTRAL STATES
Temperatures averaging 3°C to 6°C above normal prevailed across
the central states from the Rockies eastward to the Missouri River while
weekly departures of 2°C to 3°C covered areas further east. Highs
of 40°C to 44°C were widespread across the southern Plains from
the Mexican border northward through Kansas while highs exceeded 30°C
elsewhere. According to press reports, the high temperatures, combined
with a lack of rainfall and low humidities, stressed crops and aggravated
wildfire conditions (see item 3 below)
[WARM - Up to 8 weeks].
3. South-Central United States:
SHORT-TERM DRYNESS PERSISTS
Except for isolated showers (25 to 100 mm) in eastern Texas and southern
Louisiana, little or no rain was reported across the southern and central
Great Plains, with some areas (particularly the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex)
not having measurable rain for more than 60 days. High temperatures (see
item 2 above) aggravated the very dry conditions. Most locations received
less than 50 mm of rain during the last 8 weeks, resulting in significant
precipitation shortfalls of 50 to 200 mm. Please see the U.
S. Drought Monitor for more details [DRY - Up to 22 weeks].
4. Brazil:
UNUSUALLY WET CONDITIONS DEVELOP
Moderate to heavy rains (50 to 100 mm) soaked Goias while lesser amounts
(25 to 50 mm) fell on Mato Grosso do Sul and the western portions of Sao
Paulo and Minas Gerais states of central Brazil. During the last 8 weeks,
the region has received 100 to 400 mm of rain, which yielded moisture surpluses
of 50 to 225 mm [WET - 4 weeks].
5. Southern South America:
COLD ANOMALY EXPANDS
Unusually cold weather, characterized by weekly departures of -2°C
to -5°C dominated the southern two-thirds of Chile and Argentina. Subfreezing
lows covered the entire region, with the mercury plummeting to -9°C
as far north as 41°S. In addition, readings failed to reach 20°C
across the southern halves of Chile and Argentina [COLD - Up to 4 weeks].
6. Southwestern Asia:
ABOVE-NORMAL TEMPERATURES CONTINUE
Weekly departures of +2°C to +6°C dominated southwestern Asia from
the Persian Gulf Coast of Iran northeastward through southern Kazakhstan,
with the mercury soaring above 40°C in western and southern Iran. Readings
of 30°C to 39°C covered the remainder of the region [WARM - Up
to 7 weeks].
7. East-Central Asia:
WARM ANOMALY ABATES
Temperatures were generally within 3°C of normal across Japan, Korea,
northeastern China, and southeastern Siberia. Highs of 30°C to 35°C
dominated the southern half of Japan, most of Korea, and northeastern China
while readings of 20°C to 29°C prevailed elsewhere [WARM - Up to
14 weeks].
8. Southern China and Northern Vietnam:
TYPHOON WUKONG BRINGS HEAVY RAINS
Between 100 and 200 mm of rains, fueled by Typhoon Wukong, drenched Hainan
Island of China. The storm moved westward and rapidly weakened, but the
remnants dumped similar amounts (100 to 200 mm) on northern Vietnam [Episodic
Event].