Weekly Global Climate Highlights Map for July 20, 2002

1. North America:

VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES DOMINATE
Weekly departures ranged from +2°C to +7°C across the interior western United States and much of southern Canada. Readings of 40°C to 43°C covered the northern and central Great Plains as well as the desert Southwest while highs in the thirties (°C) prevailed elsewhere [WARM - Up to 8 weeks].

2. Central United States:

VERY DRY CONDITIONS PREVAIL
Little or no rain fell on the central and western Great Plains for the fifth consecutive week. Between May 26 and July 20, fewer than 120 mm of rain accumulated across the Plains, allowing short-term moisture deficits to range from 50 to 150 mm. See the United States Drought Monitor for more details [DRY - Up to 10 weeks].

3. Eastern United States:

MOISTURE SHORTAGES REMAIN
Fewer than 50 mm of rain was reported across the region last week, with the exception of isolated showers dropping up to 100 mm in eastern Virginia. During the last 3 months, precipitation totaled 100 to 300 mm, resulting in 13-week moisture deficits of 100 to 230 mm. See the United States Drought Monitor for more details [DRY - Up to 16 weeks].

4. Texas:

MORE ABUNDANT RAINS
Between 25 and 200 mm of rain fell on eastern and southern Texas during the past week. Precipitation totals of 200 to 510 mm during the past 8 weeks yielded short-term moisture surpluses of 100 to 340 mm [WET - Up to 6 weeks].

5. Bolivia and Peru:

COLD AIR PUSHES NORTHWARD
Temperatures were as much as 3°C below normal in southern Peru and adjacent parts of Bolivia, with subfreezing lows and heavy snow reported in the area. Press reports indicated that the cold weather caused many deaths in southern Peru [COLD - Up to 8 weeks].

6. Chile and Argentina:

PRECIPITATION DEFICITS REPORTED
Less than 50 mm of precipitation fell on most of Chile and Argentina. Although 8-week precipitation totals were as high as 340 mm, short-term moisture deficits ranged from 50 to 315 mm [DRY - Up to 6 weeks].

7. Eastern Europe:

ABOVE-NORMAL TEMPERATURES CONTINUE
Temperatures averaged 2°C to 6°C above normal throughout eastern Europe, with locally higher departures (+6°C to +8°C) in Austria, Poland, the Ukraine, and western Russia. Highs were generally in the thirties (°C), with a few readings above 40°C in southeastern Europe [WARM - Up to 16 weeks].

8. Central Sahel:

VERY WARM AND DRY WEATHER EASES
Scattered showers delivered 25 to 100 mm of rain to extreme southern Niger and eastern Burkina Faso, but most areas received fewer than 25 mm. Short-term moisture deficits remained below 100 mm [DRY - Up to 11 weeks]. Temperatures were generally within 3°C of normal [WARM - Up to 11 weeks].

9. South-Central Siberia:

UNUSUALLY WARM WEATHER SHIFTS SOUTHWARD
Weekly departures of +2°C to +4°C prevailed in the vicinity of Lake Baykal. Highs generally ranged from 26°C to 33°C [WARM - Up to 5 weeks].

10. Central China:

WARM CONDITIONS DOMINATE
Temperatures were 2°C to 5°C above normal across much of the interior of China, with highs ranging from 30°C to 42°C. The mercury remained above 20°C in much of the region [WARM - Up to 8 weeks].

11. Japan:

MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINS CONTINUE
Torrential rains (100 to 500 mm) drenched many locations in Japan while adjacent areas received moderate amounts (25 to 100 mm) during the past week. During the last 8 weeks, 200 to 1400 mm of precipitation has fallen, yielding short-term moisture excesses of 50 to 430 mm [WET - Up to 6 weeks].

12. Southeastern Queensland:

COLD POCKET REMAINS
Weekly departures around -2°C persisted in southeastern Queensland, with subfreezing lows at some locations. Temperatures, however, managed to climb above 20°C across the region [COLD - Ending at 4 weeks].

13. East Coast of Australia:

DRY ANOMALY DEVELOPS
Little or no rain fell on the eastern portions of Queensland and New South Wales for the fourth consecutive week. Generally less than 100 mm of rain accumulated since late May, resulting in precipitation shortfalls of 50 to 150 mm [DRY - Up to 6 weeks].