GLOBAL CLIMATE HIGHLIGHTS

JANUARY 2001

NORTH AMERICA

Eastern 

Little or no precipitation fell across the region, except for light to moderate amounts of 10 to 50 mm (.40”-2.00”) along and east of the western foothills of the Appalachians.

Alaska and Northwestern Canada

Temperatures averaged 6°C to 17°C (12°F-34°F) above normal across much of Alaska and northwestern Canada. The mercury climbed above freezing across southern Alaska while highs of -1°C to -10°C (30°F-14°F) prevailed elsewhere.

UNITED STATES

California

No precipitation was reported across most of California, with only light amounts of less than 10 mm (.40”) felling in higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada.

Eastern and South-Central United States

Temperatures averaged 6°C to 9°C (12°F-18°F) below normal across the southeastern United States while weekly departures of 3°C to 6°C (6°F-12°F) below normal during the first week dominated the southern Plains, Ohio River Valley, and mid-Atlantic. Lows dipped below -10°C (14°F) as far south as east-central Mississippi and northern Alabama while the mercury plummeted below -20°C (-4°F) in northeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas.

Northwestern

Precipitation of less than 25 mm (1.00”) of precipitation fell on most of the region during the third week as unusually dry conditions redeveloped. Only a few favored coastal locations received 25 to 100 mm )1.00”-4.00”) of precipitation.

South-Central United States

Rainfall of 50 and 200 mm (2.00”)-8.00”) fell across eastern Texas and adjacent parts of Louisiana and Arkansas during the third week.

SOUTH AMERICA

East-Central Argentina

Little or no rain fell on western Buenos Aires and eastern La Pampa provinces of

east-central Argentina during the first week.

Southern

Extreme Southern South America

Rainfall of more than 100 mm (4.00”) drenched the area during the last week.

EUROPE

Western 

Torrential rains of 100 to 200 mm (4.00”-8.00”) drenched extreme western France, northwestern Spain, and the northern half of Portugal, with amounts of 25 to 100 mm (1.00”-4.00”) fell on the eastern fringes of the region.

Southern Europe, Southwestern Asia, and Northern Africa

During the first week, temperatures averaged 2°C to 5°C (4°F-10°F) above normal across southwestern and south-central Europe, while temperatures averaged 6°C (12°F) above normal in southeastern Europe, and 12°C (24°F) in western Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, temperatures averaged 2°C to 6°C (4°F-12°F) above normal across northern Africa. The mercury climbed above freezing throughout the region while highs soared above 20°C (68°F) across northern Africa and along the Mediterranean coast of southwestern and south-central Europe.

RUSSIA

Western 

During the last week, temperatures averaged 6°C to 21°C (12°F-42°F) below normal across the western portion of Siberia. The mercury failed to reach -20°C (-4°F) throughout the week while lows ranged from -30°C to -53°C (-22°F- -53°F).

AFRICA

Western 

Temperatures averaged 2°C to 5°C (4°F-10°F) above normal across western Africa, with locally higher departures of 6°C to 9°C (12°F-18°F). Highs of 30°C to 39°C (86°F-102°F) prevailed across the region while the mercury soared above 40°C (104°F) in parts of southern Mali.

Southern 

Rainfall of only 25 to 50 mm (1.00”-2.00”) fell on northern Zimbabwe and northeastern Namibia while little or none was reported elsewhere.

Rainfall of 100 and 200 mm (4.00”-8.00”) inundated parts of extreme northeastern Zimbabwe and extreme western Mozambique during the last week while moderate rains of 25 to 100 mm (1.00”-4.00”) prevailed across northern Zimbabwe and northeastern Botswana.

ASIA

Siberia and Northeastern China

Temperatures averaged 10°C to 22°C (20°F-44°F) below normal across central Siberia while readings were 6°C to 10°C (12°F-20°F) below normal across the remainder of south-central and southwestern Siberia. Meanwhile, temperatures averaged 2°C to 6°C (4°F-12°F) below normal across Manchuria. The mercury plummeted below -40°C (-40°F) across most of the region

AUSTRALIA

Northeastern 

Moderate to heavy rainfall of 25 to 200 mm (1.00”-8.00”) were restricted to the Cape York Peninsula of northeastern Queensland, but little or no rain was measured elsewhere.

Southeastern 

Rainfall of less than 25 mm (1.00”) fell on eastern New South Wales as abnormal dryness developed across the region.

Little or no rain fell on New South Wales and Victoria during the third week, except for 10 to 50 mm (.40”-2.00”) at some coastal locations of New South Wales. The unusually dry conditions were exacerbated by very high temperatures.