Global Highlights:

  • Global average combined land and sea surface temperature was the third warmest for January 2003
  • Temperatures were much above average across western U.S, Alaska, Canada and southeast Australia with below average temperatures across eastern U.S., eastern Mongolia and Scandinavia
  • Precipitation during January was above average across much of Europe and northern Africa as well as parts of southeast China, with drier than average conditions over northern Brazil, most of the U.S. and the eastern half of Australia
  

Contents of this Section:

The data presented in this report are preliminary. Ranks and anomalies may change as more complete data are received and processed. The most current data may be accessed via the Global Surface Temperature Anomalies page.

Introduction

The January 2003 mean temperature was above the 1988-2002 average across Alaska, Canada, western U.S. and southeast Australia as shown in the adjacent map of blended satellite and in situ data. Cooler than average temperatures were noted over Scandinavia and western Europe, as well as the eastern U.S. The mean position of upper level ridges and troughs of low pressure (depicted by positive and negative 500 millibar height anomalies), are generally reflected by areas of positive and negative temperature anomalies at the surface, respectively. Warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures were observed throughout the tropical Pacific, the signature of El Niño conditions. temperature in January 2003
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Click Here for the Global Temperature Anomalies in January 2003
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 January temperature anomalies calculated from the Global Historical Climatology Network data set of land surface stations using a 1961-1990 base period also show above average temperatures throughout Canada, Alaska and much of the western United States. Monthly temperatures were 4-6°C (7.2-10.8°F) above the mean. Notable cool anomalies were present throughout the eastern U.S., northern Europe, and parts of southern Asia where monthly temperatures were as much as 3-6°C (5.4-10.8°F) below average.

Temperature

January
  • For January 2003, the global average land and ocean surface temperature was 0.60°C (1.08°F) above the 1880-2002 average, ranking as the third warmest January in the period of record
  • The warmest January occurred in 2002, with an anomaly of +0.72°C (+1.30°F)
  • Globally averaged land temperatures were second warmest on record, or 1.03°C (1.85°F) above the long-term mean
 Click Here for the Global Temp Anomalies in January 2003
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  • January 2003 temperatures averaged across the Northern Hemisphere were third warmest on record, or 0.68°C (1.22°F) above the long term mean
  • Temperatures averaged throughout the Southern Hemisphere were fourth warmest, or 0.53°C (0.95°F) above average
 Click Here for the Global Temp Anomalies in January 2003
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Precipitation

  • During January 2003, much above average precipitation fell across most of Europe into northern Africa, as well as southern Brazil and parts of southeast China
  • Below average precipitation was observed across most of the U.S., the eastern half of Australia and northern Brazil
  • Additional regional analysis can be found on the Global Hazards page
 Click Here for the Global Precip Anomalies in September-January 2003
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References:

Peterson, T.C. and R.S. Vose, 1997: An Overview of the Global Historical Climatology Network Database. Bull. Amer. Meteorol. Soc., 78, 2837-2849.

Citing This Report

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Monthly Global Climate Report for January 2003, published online February 2003, retrieved on April 26, 2024 from https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/global/200301.