1. Northern and Western North America, Greenland, and Iceland:
EXTENSIVE AREA OF UNSEASONABLY MILD WEATHER REPORTED
Large positive weekly temperature departures (+6°C to +15°C) dominated
much of western North America, northern Canada, Greenland, and Iceland,
with locally higher departures approaching +30°C. The mercury climbed
above -10°C across most of Alaska, Canada, and Greenland, with highs
above the freezing mark throughout the western United States, southwestern
Canada, and Iceland. Despite the above normal temperatures, most locations
(except for the Pacific Coast of United States and southwestern Canada)
fell below freezing, and reading dropped below -20°C across northern
Canada [WARM - Up to 11 weeks].
2. South-Central Alaska:
MORE FAVORABLY DRY WEATHER
Fewer than 50 mm of precipitation was reported as favorably dry conditions
prevailed. Precipitation totals for the last 3 months ranged from 200 to
1400 mm, with highly variable moisture excesses of 50 to 500 mm [WET -
Up to 14 weeks].
3. Central United States:
PRECIPITATION DEFICITS INCREASE
Little or no precipitation fell on the central United States from northeastern
Kansas and central Nebraska eastward to the Appalachians as abnormally
dry conditions persisted. Precipitation totals since October 20 were generally
less than 150 mm, yielding precipitation shortfalls of 50 to 120 mm [DRY
- Up to 9 weeks].
4. Eastern United States:
COLD ANOMALY ABATES
Moderating conditions, featuring temperatures averaging 2°C to 3°C
below normal, dominated the United States east of the Appalachians. Subfreezing
lows covered the entire region, with temperatures plummeting below -10°C
as far south as southern Pennsylvania. The mercury managed to climb above
the freezing mark across the East [COLD - Up to 4 weeks].
5. Central South America:
SUBNORMAL TEMPERATURES OVERSPREAD NORTHERN ARGENTINA
Unseasonably cool conditions, characterized by weekly departures of -2°C
to -4°C, prevailed across northern Argentina and adjacent parts of
Chile, Paraguay, Brazil, and Uruguay. Weekly lows ranged from 10°C
to 19°C while highs were generally in the twenties (°C) in Uruguay
and in the thirties (°C) elsewhere [COLD - Up to 2 weeks].
6. East-Central South America:
HEAVY RAINS DRIFT NORTHWARD
Favorably dry weather, with fewer than 25 mm of rain, prevailed across
Uruguay and northeastern Argentina, but light to moderate rains dampened
southern Brazil. During the last 3 months, precipitation totaled 200 to
1200 mm, yielding moisture surpluses ranging from 50 to 1200 mm [WET -
Up to 16 weeks].
7. Southern Europe:
MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINS REPORTED
A succession of storms delivered 25 to 100 mm of rain to Italy and Greece
during the past week. Since the middle of November, 100 to 400 mm of rain
accumulated across the region, with 4-week totals among the highest 10%
of the climatological distribution [WET - Up to 6 weeks].
8. Northern and Eastern Europe:
DRY ANOMALY RETURNS
Little or no precipitation fell on most of Europe as unusually dry conditions
spread across the northern and eastern portions of the Continent. During
the last 4 weeks, precipitation totaled less than 40 mm, with 28-day totals
among the lowest 10% of the climatological distribution, and generally
less than 45% of the amount expected for the period [DRY - Up to 6 weeks].
9. Europe and Asia:
BITTERLY COLD AIR OVERSPREADS MUCH OF TWO CONTINENTS
Weekly temperature departures of -6°C to -17°C dominated eastern
Europe and most of western and central Asia, and penetrated as far east
as northeastern China. Temperatures plummeted below -20°C across much
of Scandinavia and Russia while lows of -10°C to -20°C prevailed
elsewhere. The mercury failed to reach the freezing mark over most of the
region, with the exception of the Baltics, southern Scandinavia, and western
Germany [COLD - Up to 11 weeks].
10. Central Sahel:
UNUSUALLY HIGH TEMPERATURES COVER REGION
Temperatures were 2°C to 6°C above normal across Niger and adjacent
parts of Nigeria, Chad, and Mauritania. Highs were in the thirties (°C),
but readings generally fell below 20°C during the week [WARM - Up to
3 weeks].
11. Southeastern Africa:
MODERATE RAINS PROVIDE SOME RELIEF
Light to moderate rains (10 to 50 mm) brought limited relief to the region,
with more generous rains (50 to 100 mm) falling on eastern Zimbabwe and
parts of northeastern South Africa. Precipitation totals between October
20 and December 14 ranged from 50 to 225 mm, yielding short-term moisture
deficits of 50 to 160 mm [DRY - Up to 7 weeks].
12. Northeastern Australia:
ABNORMALLY DRY CONDITIONS PERSIST
Beneficial rains (25 to 100 mm) were restricted to southeastern Queensland.
The remainder of Queensland received little or no rain, except for a few
scattered light showers (10 to 25 mm). During the last 3 months, fewer
than 200 mm of rain accumulated, resulting in shortfalls of 50 to 220 mm
[DRY - Up to 12 weeks].
13. Central and Southeastern Australia:
UNSEASONABLY COOL CONDITIONS PREVAIL
Temperatures were 2°C to 5°C below normal across much of central
and southeastern Australia, but highs reached the thirties (°C) at
most locations, and even exceeded 40°C across the central interior.
The mercury dropped below 20°C throughout the region [COLD - Up to
2 weeks].