Weekly Global Climate Highlights Map for August 25, 2001

1. Texas, Mexico, and Central America:

SHORT-TERM MOISTURE DEFICITS REMAIN
The remnants of Tropical Storm Chantel fueled heavy rains (100 to 500 mm) in southern Mexico and Central America, but further north, precipitation totals decreased from 100 mm in central Mexico to fewer than 10 mm in southern Texas. Since the beginning of July, highly-variable precipitation totaled 10 to 250 mm, yielding 8-week shortfalls of 50 to 400 mm [DRY - Up to 16 weeks].

2. Northeastern United States and Southeastern Canada:

RAINS BRING LIMITED RELIEF TO SOME AREAS
Between 25 and 125 mm of rain dampened the St. Lawrence River Valley, southeastern Quebec, the northern Maritimes, Long Island, and southern New England, but the remainder of the region received fewer than 25 mm of rain. Since the beginning of July, 40 to 130 mm of precipitation has fallen, allowing short-term moisture deficits of 50 to 200 mm to accumulate [DRY - Up to 10 weeks].

3. Central South America:

WARM ANOMALY SHIFTS SOUTHWESTWARD
Temperatures were within 3°C of normal across Uruguay and northern Buenos Aires province of Argentina while weekly departures ranged from +3°C to +6°C across central Argentina. Highs were generally in the twenties (°C) while lows remained above freezing except at higher elevations along the Andes [WARM - Up to 4 weeks].

4. Central Europe:

WARM ANOMALY CONTINUES
Temperature departures of +3°C to +6°C prevailed over a large part of Europe from Denmark, England, and northern France eastward to Belarus, southwestern Russia, and northcentral Turkey. The mercury reached as high as 36°C at Poitiers, France (47°N) and 37°C at Turnu Magurele, Romania (44°N)  [WARM - Up to 15 weeks].

5. Central and Eastern Europe:

RAINS EASE DRYNESS
Scattered showers (10 to 60 mm) brought relief to dry conditions in parts of Europe from northern Italy and Switzerland eastward to Slovakia and Romania. Little or no rain, however,  fell on Moldavia and the Ukraine. During the past 8 weeks, less than 100 mm of precipitation has fallen in much of the area (except in the higher elevations), allowing moisture deficits of 50 to 150 mm to accumulate [DRY - Up to 9 weeks].

6. Western Africa:

PRECIPITATION DEFICITS PERSIST
Fewer than 25 mm of rain was reported in Senegal while 25 to 50 mm fell on western Mali. Between 50 and 100 mm of rain fell on Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. Short-term moisture deficits were less than 110 mm [DRY - Up to 6 weeks].

7. Southern Africa:

COLD SNAP DOMINATES REGION
Weekly departures of -3°C to -4°C prevailed across southern Namibia and western South Africa while departures were generally -2°C to -3°C elsewhere. Weekly highs were generally in the twenties (°C) while subfreezing lows covered most interior regions, and reading dipped below 5°C along the coast [COLD - 2 weeks].

8. Northern Asia:

WARM ANOMALY SPREADS ACROSS ASIA
Temperatures averaged 2°C to 5°C above normal across an area extending from northwestern Siberia southeastward to northern Manchuria and southeastern Siberia. The mercury reached 31°C as far north as Acinsk, Russia (56°N) [WARM - Up to 19 weeks].

9. Japan:

TYPHOON ENDS DRYNESS
Typhoon Pabuk swept northward into Japan with high wind and torrential rain. Precipitation amounts of 100 to 200 mm drenched the eastern coast of Kyushu, Shikoku, and eastern Honshu. According to press reports, the storm killed or injured dozens of people, interrupted transportation, and caused power outages [Episodic Event]. Since the first of July, however,  in parts of western Honshu and Kyushu which were not as affected by Pabuk, moisture deficits of 50 to 250 mm remain [DRY - Ending at 13 weeks]

10. Northern Australia:

COLD ANOMALY DEVELOPS
Temperatures averaged 2°C to 4°C below normal across much of Queensland and Northern Territory. The mercury failed to reach 30°C in central and southern Northern Territory and the southern and eastern portions of Queensland. Lows were generally below 10°C south of 20°S, and readings approached 10°C as far north as Halls Creek (18°S) [COLD - 2 weeks].