1. Alaska and Canada:
LARGE POSITIVE TEMPERATURE DEPARTURES DOMINATE
Weekly temperature departures of +6°C to +18°C prevailed across
Alaska and western Canada while temperatures were 3°C to 6°C above
normal across the remainder of the region. Highs generally exceeded -10°C
except along the northern and eastern fringes of the area, but lows still
plummeted below -20°C throughout Alaska and most of Canada [WARM -
Up to 3 weeks].
2. Midwestern United States:
ABNORMALLY DRY CONDITIONS DEVELOP
Little or no precipitation fell on the western Great Lakes and the Corn
Belt while Missouri reported 10 to 25 mm during the past week. Short-term
moisture deficits were generally less than 50 mm, but moisture deficits
of 50 to 125 mm accumulated in central Illinois and west-central Indiana
[DRY - Up to 7 weeks].
3. Europe:
DRY POCKETS REMAIN
Fewer than 25 mm of precipitation fell on northwestern Italy, eastern France,
and most of England while up to 50 mm dampened Ireland and southern Scotland,
where isolated higher totals (approaching 100 mm) were reported. During
the past 13 weeks, northwestern Italy received less than 100 mm of precipitation
for deficits of 60 to 325 mm while France received less than 150 mm, yielding
moisture shortages of 50 to 240 mm. Meanwhile, the British Isles accumulated
90 to 350 mm of precipitation, with resulting shortfalls of 50 to 320 mm
[DRY - Up to 18 weeks].
4. Southeastern Europe, Middle East, and Northeastern Africa:
MORE COLD WEATHER
Weekly temperature departures of -2°C to -6°C prevailed across
southeastern Europe, the Middle East, and Egypt, with large negative departures
of -6°C to -12°C dominating the interior portions of Turkey. Subfreezing
lows covered the entire region. The mercury dipped below -10°C in most
of Turkey, and lows ranged from -20°C to -30°C across the northeastern
interior of the country [COLD - Up to 11 weeks]. Press reports indicated
the snow accumulated in Rome, Italy for the first time in several years
[Episodic Event].
5. Eastern Asia:
WARM ANOMALY SHIFTS EASTWARD
Temperatures averaged 6°C to 13°C above normal across south-central
Siberia, eastern Mongolia, and northeastern China, with weekly departures
of +2°C to +6°C reported elsewhere. Readings remained above freezing
south of 30°N, but the mercury dropped below -20°C across south-central
Siberia, Mongolia, and Manchuria. Highs generally exceeded the freezing
mark south of 45°N [WARM - Up to 3 weeks].
6. Southeastern Australia:
PRECIPITATION DEFICITS CONTINUE
Little or no rain fell on south-central New South Wales and the eastern
half of Victoria while 10 to 25 mm dampened southeastern New South Wales.
Fewer than 80 mm of rain accumulated between November 25, 2001 and January
19, 2002, resulting in 8-week precipitation shortfalls of 50 to 90 mm [DRY
- Up to 8 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.