Drew Lerner, Author at World Weather

New MJO Event Promises More Flooding In SE Asia

Kansas City, January 17 (World Weather Inc.) – Bouts of heavy rain have been plaguing parts of Malaysia and the Philippines for many weeks, though the past few days has brought lighter and more sporadic rain for some areas. Damage to crops and property has occurred multiple times because of the frequently recurring excessive rain events. A new Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) event is exiting Africa and moving over western parts of the Indian Ocean today and will spend the weekend and early part of next week over the Indian Ocean. The event will then shift to the east impacting most of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and possibly northern Australia next week and into the last week of this month. Flooding is expected once again.

South Africa Far Western Summer Crops Need Greater Rain

Kansas City, January 16 (World Weather Inc.) – Waves of rain were noted in the eastern half of South Africa during the past week. Several locations in Limpopo and Mpumalanga received significant rain with localized flooding in portions of Limpopo. Crop damage was suspected of being minimal. Long-term crop conditions remain generally good for eastern South Africa, though the wettest locations would benefit from a period of drier weather to firm up the soil. Western sections of Free State and North West otherwise dried down during the past week and the need for rain increased. The eastern half of the country will see a good mix of rain and sunshine during the coming week. The environment will remain favorable for aggressive growth and the wettest fields should have an opportunity to dry down. Western sections of Free State and North West will otherwise dry down further and the need for timely rain later this month will increase.

Argentina Weather May Dry Down Again In Early February

Kansas City, January 16 (World Weather Inc.) – Strong easterly trade winds across the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean from the second half of November through most of December was largely responsible for greater ocean surface cooling in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean recently. The change took several weeks, but as the ocean’s surface cooled La Nina began to evolve. Conditions recently have been less supportive of such dominating La Nina conditions which is why Argentina rain potentials have risen for the next ten days and there will be timely rain in Uruguay, southern Brazil and parts of Paraguay as well. A robust Madden Julian Oscillation event over Africa today will move swiftly to the east over the next couple of weeks and may eventually bring new support for La Nina.

Morocco Still In Drought; Algeria, Tunisia Moisture Improving

Kansas City, January 16 (World Weather Inc.) – Morocco remains in a severe drought due to continued dryness. Winter wheat and barley production potentials have been hurt by ongoing dryness and the need for abundant rain is high. The main production areas will have a few opportunities for erratic rainfall during the coming week, though not enough rain will fall to significantly improve the moisture profile or production potentials. Algeria and Tunisia were also starting to dry down a little too much before the past week of rain began and the timely precipitation should greatly improve crop conditions and production prospects. Additional rain is expected in the coming week in Algeria and Tunisia, but timely precipitation must continue into spring to ensure good yields.