National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Portions of southern South America were notably wet during the December 2000 - February 2001 season. This region endured periodic heavy rainfall with flash flooding with the season's heaviest rains and floods in parts of Bolivia and Peru. According to media reports, heavy rains which began in the second week of January have reportedly affected 250,000 Bolivian residents, left 3,000 homeless and have killed 41 individuals in 9 provinces throughout the country.

Contents of This Report:

Asia Wetness Anomaly Product Asia Snow Cover Anomaly Product Asian Temperature Anomalies Product Australia Temperature Anomalies Product

Asia Wetness Anomaly Product

larger image

As shown in the map to the left parts of east central China were notably wet for the second season in a row. Several systems brought moderate showers from time to time across east central China. This region experienced above average rainfall and positive wetness anomalies with localized flooding. North of this region precipitation fell as snow rather than rain leading to negative wetness anomalies. Large areas of negative wetness anomalies were observed across portions of Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. Parts of these regions continue to suffer from drought conditions that have persisted for 2-3 years.

Asian Snow Cover Product

larger image Dec 2000 -Feb 2001 Daily Snow Cover Movie

Media reports indicate that heavy snowstorms for the past 3 months have killed 108,700 head of livestock in northwestern China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region causing enormous losses to the animal husbandry industry. Unusually large blizzards have hit other areas in northern Xinjiang, and temperatures in some cities dropped to -45C (-49F). Most winter grazing areas have been blanketed by snow with a thickness of 60-70cm (23-28 in). This heavy snow reportedly poses a threat to rare and endangered animals in the region, and more than 17 million head of livestock are reportedly suffering from lack of forage. The blizzards have also reportedly toppled 16,700 homes, leaving 354,000 individuals with only limited shelter. Additional positive snow cover anomalies were noted over the Korean peninsula and a small area in western China. Negative anomalies were shown over western and extreme southern Mongolia.

Asian Temperature Anomalies Product

A polar flow of cold air affected portions of Mongolia, northeastern China and the Korean peninsula during most of the December 2000 - February 2001 period. This led to much below average temperature anomalies across this region. South and west of this area temperature anomalies were near the long term average. In parts of southeast Asia, temperatures were above average.

larger image

Australia Temperature Anomalies Product

larger image

A ridge of high pressure aloft was centered off the southeast Australian coast during most of the December 2000 -February 2001 period. This led to warmer than average conditions across the southern third of the continent. This was a continuation of the previous seasonal pattern. Temperature anomalies were in excess of 4C (7.2F) in parts of the region. Northern and western areas were influenced by the monsoon season which brought cloudiness and precipitation to these regions from time to time which led to cooler than average temperatures.

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 ...
Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN)
The Global Temperature Anomalies

Tom Ross
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4328
email: tom.ross@noaa.gov

-or-

Jay Lawrimore
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4328
email: jay.lawrimore@noaa.gov

 

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2001/win/global_regional.html
Downloaded Sunday, 08-Nov-2009 06:36:25 EST
Last Updated Wednesday, 20-Aug-2008 12:22:18 EDT by Alvin.L.McGahee@noaa.gov
Please see the NCDC Contact Page if you have questions or comments.