In the Mediterranean region, the three months between December 2017 and February 2018 recorded a shortfall of rain in the Spanish and Portuguese growing regions, as well as in the tomato growing regions of central Italy. Conversely, in France and Greece, this same period saw accumulated rainfall that was higher than normal, sometimes well in excess of seasonal averages. In Algeria and Tunisia, accumulated rainfall was slightly lower than normal.
Between December and February, temperatures did not vary much from seasonal averages in Portugal, Spain, Algeria and Tunisia, as well as in most of the regions in northern and southern Italy. On the other hand, they were considerably higher than normal in Greece, Turkey and in some of the areas in central Italy (Lazio).
During March, heavy to very heavy rains fell on the Spanish Peninsula and on some areas of southern France and northern Italy. However, during that same month, growing regions in Greece and on the Aegean shores of Turkey only received a small proportion of the usual rainfall for the period.
Temperatures in Spain, Portugal and northern Italy were markedly lower than normal, but conversely, they were slightly higher than normal in Algeria, Tunisia, and central and northern Greece. The Peloponnese and Turkey benefited from temperatures that were considerably higher than normal throughout March.
Rainfall in Turkey (in the North, in the regions around the Marmara Sea and in the West of the country, close to the Aegean Sea) was practically normal between December and February, then below average for the Aegean shores in March. These "dryer" conditions were even more noticeable towards the south and the east of the Middle-Eastern region, particularly in Iran (as well as in Syria, Jordan, Israel and Egypt) where the shortfall of rain was compounded by a pattern of temperatures that were considerably higher than seasonal averages throughout the winter, and even more so during March.
In China, accumulated rainfall has been practically normal in the North of the Xinjiang region, but well below requirements in South Xinjiang over the period running December 2017-February 2018, and badly insufficient or actually nonexistent during February in the region as a whole.
Rainfall in the Xinjiang region was however well above seasonal averages for March, though it did not exceed usual local measurements by more than a few dozen millimeters, and in conditions that saw temperatures soar above normal averages, particularly in the North of the region.
In California, rainfall has been low to very low compared with seasonal averages, given that the areas with the most rain, in the North of the state, registered 50% to 75% deficits over three months, compared to usual accumulated rainfall. The month of February was almost completely dry. The Midwestern states and Ontario recorded accumulated rainfall that was slightly higher than normal for the season.
Winter temperatures in the Californian growing areas were normal, or sometimes slightly higher than normal, despite several locally cooler episodes in February. In the region around the Great Lakes, temperatures were normal for the season throughout the winter, with a slightly warmer episode in Ontario in March.
Source: NOAA
