1. North America:
UNSEASONABLY MILD CONDITIONS PERSIST
Weekly temperature departures ranged from +6°C to +18°C across
much of Canada and the north-central United States, with locally higher
departures (up to +23°C) recorded in northeastern Canada. The mercury
climbed above -10°C across Canada and rose above freezing throughout
the United States, but lows generally dropped below -20°C [WARM - Up
to 12 weeks].
2. Central United States:
PRECIPITATION DEFICITS REMAIN
Light to moderate precipitation (10 to 50 mm) fell on most of the Midwest,
with larger amounts (up to 100 mm) reported in the Ohio and central Mississippi
River Valleys. Generally less than 200 mm of precipitation accumulated
during the past 8 weeks, resulting in moisture shortfalls of 50 to 150
mm [DRY - Up to 10 weeks].
3. British Columbia:
VERY DRY WEATHER CONTINUES
Little or no precipitation fell on British Columbia, except for 10 to 100
mm on Vancouver Island and exposed portions of the southwestern coast.
During the last 4 weeks, fewer than 50 mm of precipitation accumulated
at most locations, resulting in totals among the lowest 10% of the climatological
distribution [DRY - Up to 5 weeks].
4. Western United States:
A PARADE OF PACIFIC STORMS BATTERS REGION
A series of strong Pacific storms ravaged much of California and southern
Oregon during the past few weeks, with media reports of significant damage
in some areas. Last week, precipitation totals were generally in the 100
to 200 mm range. Between 100 and 250 mm of precipitation fell on the region
during the past 4 weeks, with the total amounts among the highest 10% of
the climatological distribution [WET - 4 weeks].
5. Central South America:
HIGH TEMPERATURES RETURN
Temperatures averaged 2°C to 4°C above normal across Paraguay and
southwestern Brazil, with the mercury soaring above 40°C in parts of
Paraguay. Highs were generally in the thirties (°C) elsewhere, and
lows remained above 20°C [WARM - Up to 6 weeks].
6. East-Central South America:
STILL VERY WET
Weekly rainfall across Uruguay, southern Paraguay, and southern Brazil
ranged from 10 to 100 mm, with locally heavier rains (up to 200 mm) reported
in extreme southern Paraguay and extreme western Uruguay. Between September
22 and December 21, precipitation totaled 150 to 1000 mm, yielding 13-week
moisture excesses of 100 to 500 mm. A few locations received even more
rain (up to 1300 mm), resulting in much larger excesses (500 to 1100 mm)
[WET - Up to 17 weeks].
7. Northern and Central Europe:
ABNORMALLY DRY CONDITIONS SPREAD
Little or no precipitation fell on much of northern and central Europe.
Notable exceptions included 10 to 25 mm of precipitation in much of Sweden
and heavier amounts (up to 100 mm) on orographically-favored parts of Norway.
Most of Europe has received fewer than 200 mm since October 27, allowing
short-term moisture deficits of 50 to 330 mm to accumulate [DRY - Up to
7 weeks].
8. Southeastern Europe:
ABUNDANT RAINS CONTINUE
Between 25 and 100 mm of precipitation fell on southeastern Europe, with
locally heavier amounts (up to 200 mm) along the central Adriatic Coast
of former Yugoslavia. Frequent Mediterranean storms delivered 150 to 500
mm of precipitation during the past 8 weeks, resulting in short-term moisture
excesses of 50 to 325 mm [WET - Up to 7 weeks].
9. Europe and Western Asia:
COLD AIR DOMINATES REGION
Bitterly cold weather, characterized by temperatures averaging 2°C
to 10°C below normal, prevailed from western portions of Continental
Europe eastward to central Kazakhstan. Subfreezing lows covered the entire
region, with temperatures dropping below -10°C in eastern Europe, and
plummeting below -20°C throughout western Asia. Highs above freezing
were restricted to western and central Europe [COLD - Up to 12 weeks].
10. Southeastern Africa:
RAINS CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SOME RELIEF
Light to moderate rain showers delivered 10 to 100 mm of rain to the region,
with isolated heavier totals (up to 200 mm) in central Zimbabwe and western
Mozambique. During the past 8 weeks, precipitation totals ranged from 40
to 300 mm, yielding short-term moisture deficits of 50 to 210 mm [DRY -
Up to 8 weeks].
11. Eastern Asia:
TEMPERATURES MODERATE
Weekly departures ranged from -2°C to -6°C across eastern Asia
as bitterly cold weather began to abate. Despite moderating temperatures,
weekly lows plummeted below -20°C over most of continental Asia, reached
-10°C on Hokkaido, and fell below the freezing mark on most of Honshu.
Highs above freezing were limited to Japan and the Korean Peninsula [COLD
- Up to 12 weeks].
12. Japan and Southern China:
WET ANOMALY DEVELOPS
Unusually abundant precipitation (25 to 100 mm) fell on a swath from northern
Thailand northeastward to central Japan. Four-week precipitation totals,
ranging from 40 to 400 mm, were among the highest 10% of the climatological
distribution [WET - Up to 6 weeks].
13. South-Central and Southeastern Asia:
WARM ANOMALY DEVELOPS
Weekly departures of +2°C to +6°C covered much of India and southeastern
Asia, with highs in the thirties (°C). The mercury remained above 20°C
across most of southeastern Asia [WARM - Up to 6 weeks].
14. Queensland:
STILL ABNORMALLY DRY
Little or no rain fell on Queensland, except for isolated light showers
on the York Peninsula and in the central interior. Since September 22,
generally less than 200 mm of rain has accumulated, resulting in shortfalls
ranging from 50 to 230 mm [DRY - Up to 13 weeks].