GLOBAL CLIMATE HIGHLIGHTS

JUNE 2001

NORTH AMERICA

Northwestern 

Weekly temperatures averaged 3 to 6°C (6°F-12°F) above normal across southern Alaska and southwestern Yukon during the third week. The mercury reached as high as 29°C (84°F) at Talkeetna, Alaska.  Little or no rain also fell across the area as rainfall has totaled under 50% of normal for the past 4 weeks.

UNITED STATES

Northwestern United States and Southwestern Canada

Weekly departures of 2°C to 4°C (4°F-8°F) below normal dominated the Pacific Northwest, northern Rockies, and British Columbia. Lows ranged from 1°C to 10°C (34°F-50°F) across the region, with subfreezing temperatures reported at the higher elevations.

Southwestern 

Temperatures were 2°C to 3°C (4°F-6°F) above normal, with isolated locations reporting weekly temperature departures of up to 4°C (8°F). Highs of 40°C to 44°C (104°F-111°F) dominated southeastern California, southern Nevada, and the southern and western portions of Arizona. In addition, the mercury soared above 40°C (04°F) in western Texas.

Southern Plains

Torrential rainfall of 200 to 500 mm (8.00”-20.00”), and locally up to 750 mm (30.00”) resulted in serious wide-spread flooding, loss of several lives, and approximately one billion dollars in damage. As Tropical Storm Allison weakened, the circulation pattern persisted across southeastern Texas for several days, allowing excessive rains to pummel the area. Subsequently, the circulation, accompanied by heavy rains, began drifting slowly northeastward into Louisiana.

Western Great Lakes

Rainfall of between 50 and 150 mm (2.00”-6.00”) of rain soaked central Illinois and southwestern Indiana while 25 to 50 mm (1.00”-2.00”) fell on southwestern Ohio and the remainders of Illinois and Indiana.

Southern and Eastern 

Rainfall of 100 and 500 mm (4.00”-20.00”) of rain inundated the Gulf Coasts of Mississippi and Alabama, northern Florida, and southern Georgia while 50 to 200 mm (2.00”-8.00”) fell across much of the South and East between the Appalachians and the Atlantic Seaboard.

Eastern 

Thunderstorms deposited 50 to 200 mm (2.00”-8.00”) of rain from Virginia northward to northern New England, resulting in numerous reports of local flooding.

Central 

Heavy thunderstorms spread across eastern Kansas and northern Missouri, leaving 100 to 200 mm (4.00”-8.00”) of rain. Rainfall totaled 25 to 50 mm (1.00”-2.00”) in much of Wisconsin and southeastern Nebraska, as well as in parts of Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota.

SOUTH AMERICA

Central 

Temperatures averaged 2°C to 6°C (4°F-12°F) above normal across South America from central Brazil southward through central Argentina.

Uruguay and Adjacent Parts of East-Central Argentina

For the second consecutive week, moderate to heavy rains of 50 to 100 mm (2.00”-4.00”) drenched Entre Rios and southeastern Santa Fe Provinces of Argentina and all of Uruguay, with 100 to 200 mm (4.00”-8.00”) reported in central Uruguay.

EUROPE

Northern and Eastern 

Temperatures averaged 2°C to 4°C (4°F-8°F) below normal from southern Sweden eastward to southern Finland and southeastward into European Russia. The mercury remained above freezing over almost all the region.

ASIA

Eastern 

Warm temperatures resulted in departures of 2°C to 7°C (4°F-14°F) above normal covered a large region from central Siberia southward across Mongolia and southeastward into Japan. The mercury reached as high as 37°C (99°F) at Hamhung, Korea.

East-Central 

Moderate rains of 15 to 30 mm (.60”-1.20”) were limited to widely scattered locations in Korea and Jilin Province of China. Meanwhile, little or no rain fell on the remainder of the region.

East-Central China

Strong winds, heavy rains, and serious flooding from Typhoon Chebi claimed numerous lives and destroyed numerous buildings in Fujian Province of China.

INDIA

Temperatures averaged 2°C to 5°C (4°F-10°F) below normal over India from Maharashtra southward across Tamil Nadu. Readings reached as low as 20°C (68°F) at Begampet. Torrential rains in excess of 200 mm (8.00”) fell at some locations, and much of India received 50 to 200 mm (2.00”-8.00)”.

AUSTRALIA

Southwestern 

Unusually cold weather, with temperatures averaging 2°C to 3°C (4°F-6°F) below normal prevailed across southwestern Australia. The mercury failed to reach 20°C (68°F) across the region while lows of 1°C to 9°C (34°F-48°F) dominated the southwestern quadrant of Western Australia.