1. Alaska:
BITTERLY COLD AIR REMAINS ENTRENCHED
Temperatures averaged 3°C to 9°C below normal across much of central
and southern Alaska, with lows ranging from -10°C to -42°C. Highs
above freezing were restricted to the Alaskan Peninsula and the Aleutian
Islands [COLD - Up to 3 weeks].
2. Southern Alaska:
STILL UNUSUALLY DRY
For the sixth consecutive week, little or no precipitation was reported
across southwestern and south-central Alaska as abnormally dry weather
persisted. Between 120 and 200 mm of precipitation accumulated around Valdez,
Kodiak, and Cordoba/Mile 13 during the last 8 weeks, but fewer than 100
mm were reported elsewhere. Short-term moisture deficits ranged from 50
to 200 mm, with the larger shortages reported at Valdez and Cordoba/Mile
13 [DRY - Up to 8 weeks].
3. Pacific Northwest:
HEAVY PRECIPITATION CONTINUES
Weekly precipitation totals ranged from 50 to 200 mm across western Washington,
northwestern Oregon, and extreme southern British Columbia, where locally
heavier amounts (200 to 500 mm) were reported. Between 400 and 900 mm of
precipitation fell on the region during the last 8 weeks, generating short-term
moisture surpluses of 100 to 250 mm [WET - Up to 6 weeks].
4. Eastern United States and Southeastern Canada:
UNSEASONABLY MILD WEATHER CONTINUES
Weekly departures of +5°C to +10°C dominated the eastern United
States and southeastern Canada, with smaller departures (+2°C to +5°C)
covered the High Plains and parts of the Deep South. Readings above 20°C
pushed as far north as southwestern Pennsylvania, and covered the Southeast
and Deep South. The mercury remained above freezing throughout Kentucky
and the Southeast from Tennessee and North Carolina southward to the Gulf
of Mexico [WARM - Up to 12 weeks].
5. Northern Argentina:
COOL WEATHER ABATES
Temperatures were within 2°C of normal across northern Argentina, with
highs in the thirties (°C) and lows remaining above freezing [COLD
- Ending at 3 weeks].
6. Southwestern Europe:
ABNORMALLY DRY CONDITIONS PERSIST
For the second consecutive week little or no precipitation fell on the
Iberian Peninsula and France, with some areas receiving scanty amounts
(less than 100 mm) during the past 8 weeks. Precipitation totals for the
period of September 16 to December 15 ranged from 50 to 250 mm, resulting
in precipitation shortfalls of 50 to 400 mm [DRY- Up to 13 weeks].
7. Turkey and the Middle East:
HEAVY RAINS DRENCH COASTAL REGIONS OF TURKEY AND SYRIA
Heavy showers dumped 50 to 200 mm of rain on coastal regions of south-central
Turkey and western Syria while 25 to 50 mm were reported further inland.
During the past 8 weeks, 100 to 500 mm of rain has fallen on the region,
yielding short-term moisture excesses of 50 to 300 mm [WET - Up to 9 weeks].
8. Southern Africa:
MORE VERY WET WEATHER
Torrential rains (100 to 200 mm) inundated central Zimbabwe while moderate
to heavy rains (25 to 100 mm) prevailed elsewhere. Since mid-September,
100 to 500 mm of rainfall accumulated on the region, allowing moisture
surpluses to range from 50 to 300 mm [WET - Up to 11 weeks].
9. Madagascar and Northern Mozambique:
UNUSUALLY DRY CONDITIONS OVERSPREAD REGION
Light to moderate precipitation (25 to 100 mm) was restricted to northwestern
Mozambique and the coast of northwestern Madagascar, while fewer than 25
mm of rain fell on the remainder of northern Mozambique, Madagascar, and
surrounding Indian Ocean Islands. Between October 21 and December 15, generally
less than 200 mm of rain accumulated throughout the region, resulting in
8-week precipitation shortfalls of 50 to 300 mm [DRY - Up to 10 weeks].
10. Europe and Asia:
COLD SNAP DOMINATES TWO CONTINENTS
Bitterly cold air dominated much of Europe and Asia, with temperatures
averaging 6°C to 13°C below normal from Austria and Poland eastward
to northwestern China and central Siberia. Weekly departures of -3°C
to -6°C covered much of western and central Europe, southern China,
Mongolia, and the southern and eastern portions of Siberia. The mercury
plummeted below -20°C throughout Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and
northern China, with readings of -40°C to -53°C widespread across
central Siberia. Subfreezing lows generally pushed as far south as 35°N
and penetrated to 27°N in most of China. The mercury failed to reach
-20°C in central and eastern Siberia, remained below -10°C in all
of Siberia and Mongolia, and stayed below freezing across most of eastern
Europe, Kazakhstan, and northern China [COLD - Up to 6 weeks].
11. Central Australia:
WET ANOMALY DEVELOPS
Moderate to heavy rains (50 to 100 mm) soaked central Northern Territory
while 25 to 50 mm fell on the remainder of the region. Between 100 and
400 mm of rain has fallen on central Australia during the last 13 weeks,
allowing moisture excesses of 50 to 325 mm to accumulate [WET - Up to 7
weeks].
12. Australia:
UNUSUALLY COOL CONDITIONS PREVAIL
Weekly departures of -6°C to -9°C covered southern Northern Territory,
east-central Western Australia, and northern South Australia while temperature
departures ranged from -2°C to -6°C elsewhere. Lows dropped below
10°C as far north as 34°S. Despite the large negative weekly departures,
the mercury climbed into the thirties (°C) across most of the region,
except for southeastern Western Australia and western South Australia,
where readings were in the twenties (°C) [COLD - Up to 11 weeks].
SPECIAL NOTICE
Tropical storm tracks are no longer depicted in this product. Please
check websites of the Tropical Prediction
Center and the University
of Hawaii for these data and other details. Comments are appreciated.
Thank you.