Weekly Global Climate Highlights Map for April 27, 2002

1. Southwestern Canada and Northwestern United States:

COLD AIR PUSHES SOUTHEASTWARD
Temperatures averaged 6°C to 9°C below normal across Alberta and southern Saskatchewan while weekly temperature departures of -2°C to -6°C dominated southwestern Canada and the northwestern United States. Lows plummeted below -20°C in northern Saskatchewan and reached -10°C as far south as west-central Wyoming [COLD - Up to 9 weeks].

2. Northwestern Texas:

HEAVY RAINS TRIGGER FLOODING
According to the media, significant flooding occurred after heavy rains (up to 100 mm) fell on the region [Episodic Event].

3. Central and Eastern United States:

TORNADOES BATTER REGION
A strong storm system spawned tornadoes along a path from western Kentucky eastward through southern Maryland on April 28. The press reported that several deaths and considerable damage resulted from the storms. The unusually severe weather in Maryland claimed three lives in the vicinity of La Plata [Episodic Events].

4. Paraguay and Southwestern Brazil:

STILL UNUSUALLY WARM
Weekly temperature departures ranged from +2°C to +6°C, with highs generally in the thirties (°C) across Paraguay and much of southwestern Brazil [WARM - Up to 9 weeks].

5. Uruguay and Northeastern Argentina:

MORE HEAVY RAINS
Between 100 and 200 mm of rain drenched Uruguay last week, with more than 200 mm reported in the north-central portion of the country. Lesser amounts (10 to 100 mm) of rain fell on adjacent parts of northeastern Argentina. During the last 13 weeks, 425 to 1080 mm of rain has accumulated across the region, yielding moisture excesses of 100 to 700 mm [WET - Up to 13 weeks].

6. Western Europe:

DRY ANOMALY DEVELOPS
Little or no rain fell on England, France, and the Benelux Countries for the 8th consecutive week. Most locations received fewer than 100 mm of precipitation during the last 56 days, resulting in shortfalls of 50 to 120 mm [DRY - Up to 8 weeks].

7. Pakistan and Northwestern India:

UNUSUALLY HIGH TEMPERATURES REPORTED
Temperatures were generally 2°C to 5°C above normal across most of Pakistan and the adjacent portions of northwestern India. Weekly high temperatures ranged from 36°C to 48°C, and the mercury remained above 20°C throughout the past 7 days [WARM - Up to 3 weeks].

8. Korea and Japan:

WARM ANOMALY ABATES
Weekly temperature departures ranged from +2°C to +5°C, with the largest positive departures prevailing across northern and central Japan. Weekly highs ranged from 13°C across the northern parts of Japan and Korea to 29°C on the Ryukyus. Despite the warm weather, subfreezing lows covered much of Korea and northern Japan, especially in the higher elevations [WARM - Ending at 14 weeks].

9. Australia:

UNUSUALLY WARM CONDITIONS OVERSPREAD AUSTRALIA
Temperatures averaged 2°C to 4°C above normal across Australia, with locally higher temperature departures reaching +5°C at some interior locations. High temperatures for the week ranged from 23°C in the south to 39°C at some northern interior stations [WARM - Up to 4 weeks].