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

Temperatures Over Land

In contrast to the marked departures from average during January in the high northern latitudes, February departures were modest except for Alaska. Persistent warm conditions continued from western Europe eastward through to China. Brazil, southeastern Australia, and the Alaskan penninsula were also relatively warm, while cold conditions developed in the northern tier of the United States and in southwestern Australia.

Europe:  Temperatures continued above average across much of Europe: a mild finish to a mild winter.
Asia:  February temperature anomalies were similar in pattern to those of January, but of smaller magnitude. Temperatures in Mongolia returned to near average.
Africa:  For the third month, warmer than average conditions continued along coastal regions of West and North Africa.
Australia:  Above average temperatures continued to prevail across most of southern Australia, except for the North West Basin region, which was colder than average.
North America:  Temperatures patterns changed for the third time this season, with February temperatures colder than average in south central Canada and the northern tier of the United States. Extreme northwestern North America, however, remained warmer than average, as it has been for most of the winter.
 

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

Precipitation

Heavy rains in the western Pacific reflect weak but persistent La Niña conditions.
Africa:  Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania experienced below average rainfall.In contrast flooding occurred in Malawi, central Mozambique, and northern Zimbabwe.
South America:  Much of Brazil and northern Bolivia experienced below average rainfall, while above average rainfall prevailed in southern Bolivia, Paraguay, and southern Brazil.
North America:  Dry conditions in the southeastern United States continued. 
 

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

Oceanic Conditions

Tropics:  Weak La Niña conditions continued to persist over much of the the central and eastern Pacific, with little change from last month. Statistical and computer numerical models are predicting an end to La Niña conditions over the next two months. Many of the same models suggest mild warming conditions in the equatorial Pacific by the end of the year.
Midlatitudes:  Above average water temperatures persisted in the midlatitudes of both the Atlantic and Pacific, both north and south of the equator.

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

Material for this Global Climate Summary has been extracted from the IRI Climate Data Library, the NOAA NCEP Climate Prediction Center, the Climate Diagnostics Center, and the NOAA ERL Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratories. Additional information has been obtained from the Bureau of Meteorology, Australia, and CPTEC, Brazil.

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