Source: Climate Prediction Center, NOAA, USA
MAJOR GLOBAL CLIMATE ANOMALIES AND EPISODIC EVENTS IN 1998
Wet/cool
Jan.-May & Dec.
Crop losses
DryJul.-Sep.
StormyNov.-Dec.
Wet Nov.-Dec.
Severe Jan.ice stormVery dry
Jun.-Dec.
Abundant tropicalrains Jul.-Nov.
Wet/severe weather
Apr.-Jun.
Jan.-Jun.drought
Dry Feb.-May
StormyOct.-Dec.
Dry
Oct.-Dec.
WetSep.-Oct.WetJan.-Apr.
Warm & dryOct.-Dec.
FloodingApr.-May
50% ofnormal rainJan.-Mar.
Dry
Oct.-Dec.
Jun.-Aug.heat waves
Wetness/flooding
Sep.-Nov.
Mild Jan.-Mar.
Cold Nov.-Dec.
Hot & dryJun.-Aug.
May-Jun.heat wave
temp. to 48
°C
Jul.-Oct. up to2 870mm rain;
surpluses to 915mm
May-Aug. floods:up to 2 168mm rainsurpluses to 772mm
Warm & dry/
wildfiresJul.-Oct.Periodic warmththroughout year
Jul.-Aug.floodingDry
Oct.-Nov.
ExtremeJul.-Aug.flooding
O3B
(Jun.)
Wetness/flooding
Jul.-Sep.
Bonnie
(Aug.) up
to 250mm rain
Charley
(Aug.)
up to 450mm rain
ends drought
Mitch
(late Oct.)wind damage,
up to 685mm rain
& flooding
Sep. 97-May 98
11 to 49 times normal rainfall
Georges
(late Sep.)
severe damage tonorthern Caribbean;
heavy rain,
central USA Gulf Coast
Hot & dry Mar.-Jul.(Up to US$ 8 billiondrought damagein southern USA)
Death Valley, CA.approaches 54
°C
warmest in North America
for 36 years (Jul.)
Severely Dry Jan.-May;
Indonesian fires
Largest Sep.97-May 98
Rainfall deficits:
Philippines: 2 472mmIndonesia: 1 613mmMalaysia: 1 430mm
Powerful El Niño
gives way to
moderate La Niña Highest global annual average surface
Frequent temperature on record
warmth throughout
year
Very hot July
Warm much of the year
Warm & dry/
wildfiresJan.-Apr.
Unseasonably wet Jan.-Mar.
SevereJun.fires
Mayfires
Very warm & wet
Jan.-May
Wetness/flooding
Jan.-May
Dry Sep.-Dec.
Brief but severeAug. flooding
Wet Jan.-Jun.
Zeb (Oct.)Babs (Oct.)Dry Jun.-Jul.Wet/numeroustropical systemsSep.-Dec.
Wet
Jun.-Dec.
Figure 1.1
Significant climate anomalies and events during 1998 as recorded by the Climate Prediction
Center of the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA) of the United States.
