NCDC / Climate Research / 2000 / Mar-May / Global Regional / Search / Help

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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration March - May 2000 Global Regional Analyses National Climatic Data Center, 16 June 2000

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Climate of 2000 - May Overview Climate of March - May 2000 Overview Detailed Climate Perspectives . . Global Analysis Global Regional Analyses U.S. National Analysis U.S. Regional/Statewide Analyses Extreme Events 2000 Monthly Reports

One of the warmest areas of the globe this March - May 2000 season was southwest Asia. This region endured very warm temperatures with anomalies greater than 4C in parts of Afghanistan. The combination of hot temperatures and little rainfall led to worsening drought conditions for the area over the last three months. The drought was more severe over Afghanistan where high mountains to the south shield the country from the summer rains brought to India and parts of Pakistan by the southwest monsoon. Consequently, Afghanistan receives little or no rain during the June to October (Southwest Monsoon) period which will likely lead to even more severe drought conditions. The U.N stated in early June, "Afghanistan's worst drought in 30 years had now spread across the broken country and almost half its 20 million people could be affected."

Southwest Asia Precipitation Anomaly Time Series

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As noted above, much of southwest Asia received little rain during the three month season, leading to severe drought in many parts of the region. The time series to the left shows the seasonal precipitation anomalies as a departure from the 1961-1990 mean. This March - May 2000 season was the driest such March - May period in the last 80 years. The only drier March - May period occurred in 1921.

European Temperature Anomalies

Temperatures across much of Central and Western Europe were above normal during the March - May 2000 period with anomalies greater than 1C across a large region. Warm temperatures which led to rapid snowmelt, and periodic heavy rainfall produced flooding earlier this spring across portions of eastern Europe, mainly in eastern Hungary and parts of Romania. The coolest anomalies were observed over south central Russia.

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African Temperature Anomalies

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Much of the African continent was near the 1992-2000 mean during this three month period. The largest negative anomaly on the continent this season was observed across the southern quarter and centered in Botswana. This region had persistent cloud cover and precipitation throughout the season, which kept temperatures cool. Only across the northwest quarter of Africa were temperatures slightly above the average for the 1992-2000 period.

South American Temperature Anomalies

Much of the South American continent had temperatures close to the 1992-2000 climatological average. The largest area of below-average anomalies was noted across north-central Argentina. This region was cool due to frequent storminess which led to flooding in some areas, especially during the month of May. See the Climate Watch- May 2000 for more information.

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Basist, A., N.C. Grody, T.C. Peterson and C.N. Williams, 1998: Using the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager to Monitor Land Surface Temperatures, Wetness, and Snow Cover. Journal of Applied Meteorology, 37, 888-911.

For all climate questions other than questions concerning this report, please contact the National Climatic Data Center's Climate Services Division:

Climate Services Division
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
151 Patton Avenue, Room 120
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4876
phone: 828-271-4800
email: ncdc.orders@noaa.gov

For more information, refer also to ...
SSMI Derived Products
Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN)
The Blended GHCN - SSM/I Product
The Global Temperature Anomalies

NCDC / Climate Research / 2000 / Mar - May / Global Regional / Search / Help

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