Weekly Global Climate Highlights Map for December 1, 2001

1. Eastern United States:

STILL VERY DRY
Although 25 to 100 mm of precipitation fell on central Georgia and the northern Appalachians, most of the East Coast received fewer than 25 mm during the past week. Short-term precipitation totals were generally less than 130 mm, yielding 8-week moisture deficits of 50 to 175 mm. Please see the United States Drought Monitor for more details [DRY - Up to 10 weeks].

2. Eastern North America:

UNUSUAL WARMTH LIMITED TO THE EAST
Temperatures averaged 6°C to 10°C above normal from the Appalachians to the eastern Seaboard while weekly departures of +2°C to +6°C covered most of the country between the Mississippi River and the Appalachian Mountains. The mercury soared above 20°C as far north as central New England and southwestern Pennsylvania while above-freezing lows dominated the region as far north as Michigan and upstate New York [WARM - Up to 7 weeks].

3. East-Central South America:

WETNESS ABATES
Scattered showers dropped 25 to 100 mm of rain on some parts of central Uruguay and eastern Buenos Aires Province of Argentina, but most of the region received fewer than 25 mm. During September, October, and November, precipitation totaled 100 mm to 720 mm, allowing 13-week moisture surpluses of 100 to 400 mm to accumulate [WET - Up to 14 weeks].

4. Western Europe:

HEAVY RAINS BRING RELIEF TO ENGLAND WHILE IRELAND AND THE IBERIAN PENINSULA REMAIN DRY
Moderate to heavy rains (50 to 200 mm) soaked western England while 25 to 50 mm dampened orographically-favored portions of Ireland. Meanwhile, fewer than 25 mm of rains was reported across the remainder of the region. Most of Great Britain, Ireland, Spain, and Portugal received fewer than 250 mm of rain during October and November, resulting in precipitation shortfalls of 50 to 210 mm [DRY - Up to 11 weeks].

5. South-Central Europe:

CHILLY WEATHER RETURNS
Temperatures were 2°C to 4°C below normal across Italy and the Balkans. Subfreezing lows dominated south-central Europe, with the mercury dipping below -10°C in Romania. Temperatures remained below 20°C across the region, with readings at some high elevation stations failing to reach the freezing mark [COLD - Up to 4 weeks].

6. Turkey:

COLD CONDITIONS OVERSPREAD MOST OF TURKEY
Weekly departures of -2°C to -4°C dominated much of Turkey, with subfreezing lows prevailing across the country. The mercury failed to reach 20°C throughout Turkey, except at a few southern locations [COLD - 2 weeks].

7. Southern Africa:

MODERATE RAINS PERSIST
Between 25 and 100 mm of rain fell on northeastern South Africa, most of Botswana, and southwestern Zimbabwe during the past week. Since October 7, the region has received 100 to 400 mm of rain, yielding short-term moisture excesses of 50 to 220 mm [WET - Up to 9 weeks].

8. South-Central Siberia:

UNUSUALLY MILD WEATHER CONTINUES
Temperatures were generally 3°C to 6°C above normal across south-central Siberia east of Lake Baikal, but the mercury failed to reach the freezing mark while lows were generally above -10°C [WARM - Up to 7 weeks].

9. Southeastern Asia and Northern Philippines:

SUBNORMAL TEMPERATURES REPORTED
Weekly departures of -1°C to -4°C overspread much of Luzon and the Indochina Peninsula, with the mercury falling below 20°C at most locations. Highs generally exceeded 30°C, except in northern and central Vietnam, where the mercury remained in the twenties (°C) [COLD - Up to 3 weeks].

10. Southern Australia:

COOL WEATHER PREVAILS
Temperatures averaged 1°C to 3°C below normal across much of southern Australia, with lows dipping to 5°C as far north as Ceduna (32°S). Highs ranged from 20°C to 29°C along the coast, but climbed above 30°C across the interior sections of southern Australia [COLD - Up to 9 weeks].

SPECIAL NOTICE

At the end of the Atlantic Tropical Storm season the author of this product plans to discontinue depicting tropical storm tracks. Please check websites of the Tropical Prediction Center and the University of Hawaii for these data. Comments are appreciated. Thank you.