1. Western United States:

MILD WEATHER PREVAILS

Temperatures averaging 5°C to 9°C above normal covered the Intermountain West while temperature departures of +2°C to +5°C covered the remainder of the West. Highs exceeded 30°C in southeastern California while readings in the twenties (°C) prevailed across the Southwest. The mercury remained above freezing in the desert Southwest and along the Pacific Coast while readings below -10°C were restricted to northern and eastern portions of the Intermountain West [Up to 3 weeks].

2. Central United States and South-Central Canada:

MOISTURE DEFICITS CONTINUE

Little or no precipitation was reported across much of the central and eastern United States and southern Canada, except for some light to moderate lake-effect snows along the lee of the Great Lakes. Press reports indicate that a shortage of snowfall in the north-central states has adversely affected recreational activities and may indicate a risk of moisture shortages during the upcoming growing season. Fewer than 100 mm of precipitation has accumulated during the last 13 weeks, except in the south-central United States, where 91-day totals reached as high as 300 mm. Precipitation shortfalls for the past 13-weeks ranged from 50 to 150 mm [DRY - Up to 15 weeks].

3. Eastern United States and Southeastern Canada:

ARCTIC AIR DOMINATES REGION, SPAWNS WINTER STORMS

Repeated blasts of bitterly cold air, characterized by temperatures averaging as much as 10°C below normal, overspread much of the East during the past two weeks, with subfreezing lows penetrating to the Gulf Coast and into much of Florida. The mercury reached -10°C across the interior regions of the Southeast, with lows of -20°C pushing as far south as western Tennessee. The mercury remained below freezing in most areas north of 40°N [COLD - 2 weeks]. Heavy snow (up to 30 cm) paralyzed much of the Carolinas while significant frosts covered much of Florida during the past week, according to the media [Episodic Events].

4. Northern South America:

AREA OF WARM ANOMALY DIMINISHES

Weekly temperatures of +2°C to +5°C were limited to South America from the northern portions of Brazil and Peru northward to the Caribbean. Highs were in the thirties (°C), and lows were in the twenties (°C) [WARM - Up to 11 weeks].

5. Northern Scandinavia:

BITTERLY COLD AIR RETREATS

Temperatures avearged 2°C to 8°C below normal across the northern sections of Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Weekly lows ranged from -20°C to -33°C, but the mercury reached -10°C at most locations during the past week [COLD - Up to 5 weeks].

6. Western Africa:

UNUSUALLY WARM WEATHER REPORTED

Temperatures were 2°C to 6°C above normal from Senegal and the Gambia eastward through Niger and northern Nigeria. Highs were generally in the thirties (°C), with isolated readings above 40°C [WARM - Up to 3 weeks].

7. Southern Africa:

BENEFICIAL RAINS IN NORTHERN ZIMBABWE AND NORTHEASTERN SOUTH AFRICA; STILL DRY ELSEWHERE

Moderate rains (50 to 100 mm) fell on northern Zimbabwe while scattered light to moderate rain showers (10 to 100 mm) brought limited relief to northeastern South Africa. Little or no precipitation was reported elsewhere. Although as much as 450 mm of rain accumulated at some locations during the past 13 weeks, moisture deficits of 50 to 225 mm dominated the region [DRY - Up to 13 weeks].

8. China:

ABOVE-NORMAL TEMPERATURES DOMINATE

Weekly temperature departures of +2°C to +6°C prevailed across much of China, with a few locally higher departures of +7°C to +13°C in northwestern China. Highs in the twenties (°C) covered much of southern China while the mercury climbed above the freezing mark across most of the country except for the extreme northeastern portions. Temperatures remained above freezing south of 30°N while readings of -20°C or lower were restricted to northeastern China and the higher elevations of western China [WARM - Up to 3 weeks].

9. South-Central China:

A FAVORABLY DRY WEEK

Little or no precipitation was reported in south-central China during the past week. Between December 1 and January 25, precipitation totals generally ranged from 100 to 300 mm, yielding short-term moisture surpluses of 50 to 150 mm [WET - Ending at 11 weeks].

10. North-Central Australia:

ABNORMALLY COOL WEATHER REPORTED

Temperatures were 2°C to 4°C below normal in northeastern Northern Territory and northwestern Queensland, but highs were generally in the thirties (°C) and lows were in the twenties (°C) [COLD - Up to 3 weeks].

11. Eastern Australia:

PRECIPITATION DEFICITS REMAIN

Except for a few moderate showers (25 to 100 mm) along the immediate coast of northeastern Queensland, fewer than 25 mm of rain fell on Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. Since late October, less than 270 mm of rain has accumulated across eastern Australia, allowing precipitation shortfalls to range from 50 to 200 mm throughout the interior, and yielding 13-week deficits as high as 370 mm at coastal locations [DRY - Up to 18 weeks].