Weekly Global Climate Highlights Map for August 31, 2002

1. North-Central United States and South-Central Canada:

SHORT-TERM MOISTURE SURPLUSES REPORTED
As much as 50 mm of precipitation fell on northeastern Montana, northern North Dakota, and southwestern Manitoba during the past week. Between 100 and 300 mm of precipitation fell on the region since July 7, allowing short-term precipitation surpluses of 50 to 150 mm to accumulate [WET - Up to 7 weeks].

2. British Columbia:

MORE VERY DRY WEATHER
Little or no precipitation was reported in western interior British Columbia during the past week. Precipitation totaled 100 to 280 mm during the last 8 weeks, with short-term moisture deficits of 50 to 100 mm [DRY - Up to 9 weeks].

3. Colorado:

MOISTURE DEFICITS PERSIST
Little or no rain fell on most of Colorado, except where very localized rain showers delivered 25 to 125 mm of precipitation. Fewer than 100 mm of precipitation accumulated during the past 3 months, allowing moisture deficits of 50 to 150 mm to dominate the region. See the United States Drought Monitor for details [DRY - Up to 16 weeks].

4. Eastern United States:

HEAVY RAINS BRING RELIEF TO EAST COAST, BUT VERY DRY CONDITIONS DOMINATE ELSEWHERE
Torrential rains (100 to 500 mm) drenched much of the eastern United States east of the Appalachians and south of New York City as strong storm systems moved up the Atlantic Coast. Fewer than 25 mm of rain were reported west of the Appalachian Mountains. Although as much as 400 mm of rain fell on the eastern United States during the last 3 month, moisture shortages ranged from 50 to 350 mm. See the United States Drought Monitor for more details [DRY - Up to 22 weeks].

5. Central South America:

UNUSUALLY WARM WEATHER CONTINUES
Temperatures averaged 2°C to 7°C above normal this past week, with weekly highs ranging from 25°C to 40°C. Subfreezing lows were confined to the interior portions of northern Argentina [WARM - Up to 4 weeks].

6. Northern and Central Europe:

STILL UNUSUALLY WARM
Weekly departures of +2°C to +6°C covered much of northern and central Europe from the Alps northward to the Arctic. Highs were generally in the twenties (°C) across the entire region while the mercury failed to reach the freezing mark, even in the far northern portions of Scandinavia [WARM - Up to 9 weeks].

7. South Africa:

EXCESSIVE RAINS EASE
Although 25 to 50 mm of precipitation fell on the interior portions of central and eastern South Africa, most of the country reported fewer than 25 mm. Coastal locations recorded 200 to 400 mm of rain during the past 8 weeks, resulting in short-term moisture surpluses of 100 to 300 mm [WET - Up to 10 weeks].

8. West-Central Asia:

COLD ANOMALY DEVELOPS
Temperatures were 2°C to 5°C below normal across western Kazakhstan and much of adjacent Asian Russia, but lows remained above the freezing mark. The mercury failed to reach 30°C across the region [COLD - 2 weeks].

9. Eastern and Southern Asia:

HIGH TEMPERATURES PREVAIL
Weekly departures of +2°C to +5°C dominated much of northern and central China, Mongolia, and south-central Siberia. Weekly highs of 25°C to 41°C dominated much of eastern and southern Asia, with the lower readings reported in central China and southern Siberia. Subfreezing lows were restricted to central China, western Mongolia, and parts of southern Siberia [WARM - Up to 12 weeks].

10. Pakistan and Northwestern India:

SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION DEFICITS REMAIN
Moderate to heavy monsoon thundershowers (50 to 200 mm) were limited to Gujarat Province of west-central India and the northeastern portion of Pakistan while the remainder of the region received fewer than 50 mm of rain. Highly variable 8-week precipitation totals ranged from zero to 700 mm, yielding short-term moisture deficits of 50 to 600 mm [DRY - Up to 9 weeks].

11. Northeastern China:

DRY ANOMALY DEVELOPS
Most of northeastern China received little or no precipitation, except for weekly totals of 10 to 50 mm in Hebei. Generally less than 200 mm of precipitation fell since early July, allowing short-term moisture deficits of 50 to 250 mm to develop [DRY - Up to 6 weeks].

12. Southern China:

A RELATIVELY DRY WEEK
Although scattered showers and thundershowers dropped 25 to 100 mm of rain on southeastern China, most locations received fewer than 25 mm, allowing flood recovery operations to proceed. According to press reports, downstream flooding still affected parts of China and the Indochinese Peninsula. Between 300 and 900 mm of rain accumulated across southeastern China during the last 8 weeks, resulting in short-term moisture excesses of 100 to 600 mm [WET - Up to 11 weeks].

13. North-Central Australia:

COOL CONDITIONS SHIFT NORTHWARD AND WEAKEN
Temperatures were generally within 3°C of normal, but lows reached as low as 10°C at Rabbit Flat (20°S). Highs were generally in the thirties (°C) across the region [COLD - Up to 4 weeks].

14. Southeastern Australia:

MORE VERY DRY WEATHER
Although scattered showers brought 10 to 50 mm of rain to parts of western and central Victoria, most of the region received little or no precipitation. Since the beginning of June, less than 200 mm of rain has accumulated on southeastern Australia, yielding precipitation shortfalls of 50 to 100 mm [DRY - Up to 12 weeks].

15. Korean Peninsula:

TYPHOON RUSA BATTERS KOREA
Typhoon Rusa brought strong winds and heavy rains (up to 500 mm) to South Korea. According to press reports, the storm claimed many lives and caused considerable damage. See the University of Hawaii web site for track details [Episodic Event].