Climatological Background In February, the sun is retreating from its southernmost excursion (23 South) on its approach toward the equator in mid-March (the equinox). It is end of summer in the Southern Hemisphere and the monsoon systems typically achieve their maximum intensity in Africa, Australia, Indonesia, and South America. Winter in the Northern Hemisphere generally peaks with the north-south temperature differences beginning to drive the mid-latitude jet stream northward.

Monthly Mean Temperature (1961-1990), data from the Climate Research Unit, University of East Anglia

Monthly Mean Precipitation (1960-1991),with data from the Climate Research Unit, University of East Anglia

Temperatures Over Land
Australia: Temperatures continued to be slightly below average in Western Australia and eastern Queensland while southeastern sections of the continent were 2 to 3 C warmer than average.
Africa: Colder than average conditions prevailed in the central Sahel.
Europe: Temperatures were slightly above average on the Iberian peninsula and continued above average across the northeastern regions.
Asia: All of northern and central regions experienced above average temperatures. Central and southern Russia were more than 5 C above average.
North America: Marking the warmest winter (December - February) in 100 years in the United States, temperatures continued to be well above average in the central and northern plains, in north-central Canada and Alaska. Temperatures were slightly above average elsewhere with the exception of the northwestern US and southwestern Canada where conditions were near average.

Temperature Difference from the 1961-1990 mean, with data from NCEP Climate Prediction Center, CAMS.

Precipitation
Australia and Southeast Asia: Very heavy rainfall fell across much of Queensland and the Northern Territory of Australia. Above average rainfall was also observed in the Philippines. Below average precipitation occurred in Sumatra and western New Guinea.
South America: Above-average rainfall was observed across northeastern Brazil, east-central Argentina and western Peru. Below average rainfall continued across north-central Bolivia southeastward to Uruguay.
Africa: An enhanced rainy season along with the passage of a tropical cyclone resulted in flooding from southern Mozambique westward to southern Namibia. Drier than average conditions were observed in Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia as well as the Moroccan coast.
Europe: Below average rainfall was observed across the Iberian Peninsula with near-average conditions elsewhere.
North America: Precipitation was above average in the northwestern United States and sections of the northern Plains. Below average rainfall was observed in west-central Canada, and unusually dry conditions continued across most of the southern United States.

Precipitation Difference from 1961-1990 mean, with data from NCEP Climate Prediction Center, CAMS-OPI.

Oceanic Conditions
Tropics: In the tropical Pacific Ocean, moderate La Niña conditions (below average sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the equatorial Pacific) continued in the central Pacific, but weakened in the east. SST forecasts are predicting this event to continue to weaken, reaching neutral conditions by early summer.
Extratropics: Above average SSTs continue to persist in the Northern Hemisphere mid-latitudes of both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, although at somewhat smaller values in the Pacific than previously. In the Southern Hemisphere mid-latitudes, the ocean temperatures are also predominantly warmer than average in all three basins.

Monthly Sea Surface Temperature Difference from the 1950-1979 mean, with data from the Environmental Modeling Center, NCEP/NOAA.