a. North Pacific and North America

The strong negative PNA pattern during March was accompanied by easterly wind anomalies at 200-hPa throughout the exit region of the East Asian jet stream (Fig. T21, E11, right), in association with a westward retraction of that jet core toward Asia. Consistent with this anomalous jet structure an enhanced thermally-indirect transverse ageostrophic circulation was evident throughout the jet exit region (located near the date line), and was accompanied by enhanced upper-level divergence north of the jet core and enhanced convergence south of the jet core (Fig. T23). Consistent with these conditions the locations of the downstream upper-level ridge and trough axes were shifted approximately 30° westward to the eastern North Pacific and the central United States, respectively (Fig. E10). This shift contributed to anomalous northwesterly flow across western Canada and the north-central United States (Fig. E11), and led to below-average surface temperatures over much of North America (Fig. E1). These conditions contrast to the well above-average surface temperatures observed throughout the continent during February.

Over the United States the circulation during March also featured a well-defined jet core (300-hPa westerly winds exceeding 20 ms^-1 above normal) extending northeastward from the central Plains States to Maine (Fig. E11). Climatologically the jet core begins over the mid-Atlantic region in association with the entrance region of the North Atlantic jet stream, and then extends northeastward across the North Atlantic to Great Britain. During March above-average precipitation was observed along the entire equatorward flank of the anomalous jet entrance region from central Texas northeastward to Pennsylvania (Fig. E6), and near-average precipitation was recorded over most of the remainder of the eastern half of the country. This represents a marked change from the significantly below-average precipitation and large precipitation deficits that had dominated the eastern U.S. since October 2001 and the Ohio Valley since August (Fig. E5).

b. Europe and Asia

The combination of the positive phase of the NAO (+0.5; Table E1) and above-average heights across the Middle East led to exceptionally warm surface temperatures across most of Eurasia during March (Fig. E1), with the largest anomalies exceeding 6°C over central Russia and 4°C over northern China and Mongolia. In southern Russia this anomalous warmth was accompanied by reduced snow cover extent and an overall northward retreat of the main winter snow pack. Accompanying these conditions the jet stream winds and associated storm activity were confined to the high latitudes, resulting in below-average precipitation across the Middle East and south-central Russia. These conditions are similar to those observed during February, when above-average 500-hPa heights and record/ near-record surface temperatures covered most of Asia, and significantly below-average precipitation was observed across the Middle East.

The Southern Hemisphere circulation during March featured above-average 500-hPa heights over the high latitudes of the eastern South Pacific and the polar region (Fig. E16). This anomaly pattern contrasts with the persistent pattern of below-average heights that had previously dominated the high latitudes of the eastern South Pacific and polar region since October 2001.

Also during March below-average heights were observed in the southern extratropics from southern South America eastward to the central Indian Ocean, while above-average heights and anticyclonic circulation anomalies (Fig. T22, bottom) were observed across the middle latitudes of South America and the South Atlantic. This overall anomalous circulation was associated with a poleward shift in the main belt of westerly winds toward higher latitudes, which was accompanied over South America by a poleward shift of the mean cold frontal boundary to southern Argentina. To the north of this boundary significantly above-average surface temperatures (exceeding the 90^th percentile) were observed across central Argentina and southern Brazil during the month (Figs. E1, E4), and below-average rainfall covered central Brazil (Fig. E3). To the south of the mean frontal boundary conditions were significantly cooler and wetter than normal, with temperatures dropping below the 30^th percentile over southern Argentina and rainfall totals exceeding the 90^th percentile in the region poleward of 30°S (Figs. E3, E4).

The overall poleward shift in the main westerlies also contributed to significantly below-average rainfall across southern Africa for a third consecutive month (Fig. E4). The South African monsoon season typically lasts from November-April. To date the 2001-2002 rainy season featured above-average rainfall in the heavy agricultural region of eastern South Africa during November and December, and below-average rainfall during January-March.