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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate of 1998 Annual Review: Global Precipitation National Climatic Data Center January 12,1999

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Return to 1998 Overview 1998 Details . . . Global Temperature Global Precipitation Regional and Seasonal Variations in Global Temperatures and Precipitation Annual U.S. National Perspective Month by Month U.S. National Perspective Annual U.S. Regional Perspective Extreme Events 1998 Monthly Reports

The mean global precipitation anomaly for land areas in 1998 was 27.9 mm (1.1 in) above the 1900 - 1997 average. Considerable differences were evident in precipitation departures across latitude bands. Much of the Northern Hemisphere received above average precipitation, while land areas in the Southern Hemisphere were, on average, drier than the 1900 - 1997 mean.

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Record precipitation occurred in both the 85°N - 55°N and the 55°N - 30°N latitude bands. Precipitation over land areas between 30°N and 55°N averaged 3.1 inches (79.2 mm) above normal. This anomaly was more than 26 mm above the previous record set in 1979. Precipitation also averaged above normal in the Northern Hemisphere high latitudes (55°N-85°N). Precipitation was 2.3 inches (58.7 mm) above the 1900 - 1997 average in this latitude band. This exceeded the previous record set in 1990 by 5 mm.

Precipitation in the 30°N - 10°N latitude band was also above the long term mean (1.8 inches,45.1 mm), but was much lower than the previous record anomaly of 3.9 inches (99.1 mm) recorded in 1956. While precipitation amounts in high and mid-latitude land areas increased to record levels, the trend of much below normal precipitation continued in equatorial regions. Precipitation in the equatorial zone (10°S - 10°N) averaged 7.18 inches (182.4 mm) below the long-term mean. Below average precipitation was also recorded throughout many land areas of the Southern Hemisphere. Precipitation was 1.1 inches (28.4 mm) below the 1900 - 1997 average in the Southern Hemisphere (figure not shown). The drier than average conditions south of 10°N were in contrast to the very wet conditions in the mid and high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere and resulted in a globally averaged precipitation anomaly that was near the long term mean.

For further information, contact:

Mike Changery
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4328

David Easterling
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4328
email: David.Easterling@noaa.gov

Rob Quayle
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4328

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