1. Western United States:
COLD ANOMALY PREVAILS ACROSS INTERMOUNTAIN WEST
Temperatures averaged 3°C to 8°C below normal across portions of
Nevada, Idaho, Colorado, and Utah, including the venues for various Olympic
competitions. Highs climbed above freezing at most valley locations while
lows dipped below -20°C at the higher elevations. Cold air drainage
resulted in mountain valley inversions that reduced visibilities in many
places, including Salt Lake City. The relatively tranquil conditions allowed
for brilliant sunshine at many winter sports venues [COLD - Up to 5 weeks].
2. Middle Atlantic States:
ABNORMALLY DRY CONDITIONS DOMINATE
Another dry week (fewer than 10 mm of precipitation) was reported along
the Atlantic Seaboard from southeastern Virginia northeastward to southwestern
New England. Since late December, generally less than 120 mm of precipitation
accumulated across the mid-Atlantic, allowing short-term moisture deficits
to range from 50 to 110 mm. Please see the United
States Drought Monitor for more details [DRY - Up to 9 weeks].
3. North-Central States and Adjacent Canada:
MORE VERY DRY WEATHER
Little or no precipitation fell on the western and central Great Lakes
region again last week. Since the middle of November, most areas received
less than 160 mm of precipitation, resulting in moisture deficits of 50
to 200 mm [DRY - Up to 11 weeks].
4. Eastern Quebec:
BITTERLY COLD AIR REMAINS ENTRENCHED
Weekly departures of -3°C to -6°C dominated eastern Quebec, with
departures reaching -9°C at some locations. Lows generally ranged from
-20°C to -40°C, and the mercury failed to reach -10°C across
the region [COLD - Up to 5 weeks].
5. Europe and Western Asia:
MILD CONDITIONS OVERSPREAD REGION
Weekly departures of +6°C to +12°C dominated Europe and western
Asia from central Germany eastward to eastern Kazakhstan while temperatures
were 2°C to 6°C above normal elsewhere. Highs exceeded the freezing
mark throughout Europe and western Asia, with the mercury soaring above
20°C as far north as southern France and northern Bulgaria. Readings
remained above -10°C at most locations except at higher elevations
[WARM - Up to 6 weeks].
6. Turkey and Southeastern Europe:
DRY ANOMALY SPREADS
Fewer than 25 mm of precipitation was reported across southeastern Europe
and most of Turkey, with the exception of southeastern Turkey, where 25
to 50 mm fell last week. Between December 23, 2001 and February 16, 2002,
precipitation totaled less than 200 mm, yielding short-term moisture deficits
of 50 to 200 mm [DRY - Up to 6 weeks].
7. Northwestern Africa:
STILL UNUSUALLY DRY
Persistently dry weather continued across the portions of Morocco, Algeria,
and Tunisia north and west of the Atlas Mountains during the past week.
Since late December, most locations received fewer than 100 mm of rain,
allowing precipitation shortfalls to range from 50 to 160 mm [DRY - Up
to 7 weeks].
8. Southeastern Africa:
VERY DRY CONDITIONS PERSIST
Scattered showers dropped 25 to 100 mm of rain on a few locations in Zimbabwe
and northeastern South Africa, but most of southeastern Africa received
little or no precipitation. Since late December, short-term moisture deficits
of 50 to 150 mm accumulated [DRY - Up to 6 weeks].
9. Australia:
UNSEASONABLY COOL WEATHER CONTINUES
Temperatures averaged 2°C to 4°C below normal across most of western,
central, and southern Australia, with readings below 10°C as far north
as Perth (32°S) and below 20°C south of the Tropic of Capricorn.
The mercury climbed above 40°C in much of central and western South
Australia, but highs remained in the thirties (°C) elsewhere [COLD
- Up to 3 weeks].