The Main Weather and Climate Features of the Northern Hemisphere in November 2017

Air Temperature.

In the first decade of November almost in all territory of the Russian Federation it was abnormally warm weather. In Urals and Siberia, the average decade air temperatures exceeded the norms by 5-9°, in the north of the Far East – by 6-10°. In the south of Siberia (south areas of Krasnoyarsk district, Kemerovo and Novosibirsk area, Altai district, republic of Altai) and in Chukotka the new maximum air temperature records were registered. Only in Yakutia and in the coast of Okhotsk sea it was colder than usual. Here frosts reached -40°.
In the second decade the warmth, being kept in the European territory (ETR) and Urals, also in the Arctic coast from Taimyr to Chukotka, succeeded the place to abnormal cold in Siberia and in most part of the Far East. In the ETR the average decade air temperature anomalies have set +3-4°, in the Urals - +4-6°, in the Arctic seas coast - +4-11°, in Siberia it was colder than usual by 2-5°, in the south of the Far East – by 2-3°. In the central areas of Siberia the frosts reached -45°, in the Far East the new record minimums were registered.
In the third decade, the cold penetrated to ETR, especially to the south regions, where it became colder than usual by 2-3°. Particularly, the colds became heavier in Siberia, in the west of Yakutia and the Far East. In Evenki it was close to -50°, in Yakutia even lower. The average decade temperature anomalies have set -5…-7°.

As a result, dominating in the most part of Russia warm weather in November caused more than a norm of warmth in ETR, Urals, most part of West Siberia, northern areas of the Far East and all Arctic territory. In the European territory the average monthly air temperatures exceeded the norms by 1-2°, in Urals – by 3-4°, in the north of the Far East – by 6-10°. Only in Irkutsk region, Transbaikalia, Khabarovsk district and south of the Far East the month became colder the norm by 1-4°. Inhabitants of the south areas of the Far East Federal District met such cold November the second year in succession.
At the end of November the Autumn came to an end. Almost everywhere it became the abnormally warm, except the same areas like in November. Especially warm it was in the Arctic region, where the average season temperatures have set +3…+6°. The average monthly air temperature in January-November of 2017 is the highest one on the record in Russia. In the each point of the country the averaged temperature of this period is higher the norm. In the European territory it is higher approximately by 1°, in Siberia and the north of the Far East – by 2° and more. The large anomalies were formed in the Arctic region – +3-4° and more. The average anomaly in the Russian territory exceeded 2° over the first 11 months of 2017.
Bearing in mind than in December this year in the most part of the county the air temperature is predicted higher the norm (see site of Hydrometcentre of Russia, section “Forecasts”), one can guess that passing year will be the warmest one on the record in Russia.
The cold, dominating the most part of November in the south of the Far East of Russia, penetrated to the north areas of China, where it was relatively colder than usual. In the middle of the month here it was -20° and colder. However, in the most part of the Celestial Empire the temperature conditions of November one can describe as close to the norm.
In South-East Asia it was warmer than usual (by 1-2°). The same regards to India and Pakistan, though in the north of these countries it was relatively colder than usual.
In Kazakhstan and Central Asia the weather was very warm. This especially regards to the beginning of the month. The air in the first decade was heated up to 30°. New temperature maximums were registered in Almaty, Bishkek, Tashkent, Fergana and other points. As a result, the average monthly air temperature became here higher the norm by 2-4°.
In the Middle East the air temperature anomalies are positive. In some areas of Iran and Saudi Arabia it was exceeded approximately by 2°.
Noticeably colder than usual it was in the north of Africa. In Algeria the average monthly air temperature anomalies were -2…-4°. At the same time, in the most part of other territory of this subcontinent the temperature conditions corresponded to the norm, in some countries (Burkina-Faso, Mali, Senegal) exceeded it by 1-2°.
In the most part of Europe the average monthly air temperature anomalies were slightly positive, i.e. average temperature approximately corresponded the norm. Only in some areas in the south of continent in Italy, France, Spain, Greece it was relatively colder than usual. Sometimes very warm air penetrated to Europe, it caused the new temperature maximums, for instance, in Germany.
Canada territory in November was splinted to abnormally warm north (anomalies up to +3…+6°) and abnormally cold centre and south (anomalies to -2…-4°). As a result, the average monthly air temperature in the country appeared close to the norm. Another situation is in USA. Here almost everywhere, except Grate Lakes area, it was noticeably warmer than usual. In the centre, west and south of the country the average monthly air temperature exceeded the norm by 2-4°. Very warm November was in south-west of the USA from California to Texas. In Arkansas, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico it was the warmest November in the history, air temperature, averaged over the all country territory, was placed in the first ten of the highest values.
It was very warm in Arctic. The average monthly air temperature was the same as in the last year and it enclosed the first three highest values on the record. The average monthly air temperature anomaly in Arctic exceeded +4°.
The Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere was very warm. Its average air temperature  is in the first three highest values since 1891. Only in 2015 and 2016 the November was warmer. The positive anomalies of the average decade temperature dominated almost everything. In Arctic they reached +4…+6°, in the Central Asia and Middle East – more 2°, in the USA – more 2-3°. The negative average monthly air temperature anomalies over the Autumn 2017, except the areas of the Russia East, embrace also equatorial latitudes in the east of Pacific ocean, where the new La-Niña began.
In Moscow the average monthly air temperature of November is 0°, anomaly is +1.2°. Autumn in the capital also is warmer the norm by 1°.


Ocean Surface Temperature.

Surface average temperature anomalies of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans (SST) grew in comparison with October. This happened in spite of fast La-Niña strengthening (cold episode of South oscillation) in the equatorial part of the Pacific ocean. In some places the negative anomalies of SST exceeded 2°. Ocean and atmosphere once again after the neutral phase came back to La-Niña, existed at the end of 2016, not to El-Niño (warm episode of South oscillation), as it was usual. According with some signs, new La-Niña may be the strongest over the last period of XXI century.
The abnormally warm weather in the Atlantic ocean was concentrated along the North America coast from Florida to Newfoundland. Here the SST anomalies in some places exceeded +2.5°. Approximately by 1° above the norm the water temperature is in Mexico Gulf, Davis strait and is it observed during the long time, in Arctic at the boundary between Atlantic and Arctic ocean.

Precipitation.

In the most part of central and north regions of ETR the atmospheric precipitations in November were in the norm. Heavy snowfalls in the north of Arkhangelsk region, republic of Komi and in the Central Russia in Voronezh, Vladimir, Ryazan, Ivanovo, Kostroma regions caused the new daily maximums of the fresh snow. It was dry in the south of ETR. Here it was less the norm of precipitations, as a rule. In Crimea the heavy rains fell in the end of the month. In Simferopol 40% of the month precipitations norm was fallen over the day, in Sochi, in the city, not in the mountains the traces of the fresh snow appeared.
In Urals, except the north territories, it was less the norm of precipitations. In Siberia the distribution of precipitations have set the plural picture. In general, it is the norm of precipitations. But, there are regions with more than norm of precipitations – republic of Buryatia, and with substantial deficiency - Altai and Transbaikal districts, republics of Khakassia and Tyva.
 The Far East north was covered with snow. In Kamchatka and Kolyma the norms were exceeded in 2-3 times. At the same time in the south of Khabarovsk and Amur regions the precipitation sums, being kept over the month, did not reached the right values.
In the most part of China it was dry and only in south provinces on the coast of South-Chinese sea and in the west of Xinjian and Tibet they reached the norm.
South-East Asia was inundated with rains. In some places it was fallen up to 150 mm of precipitations over the day, which caused landslides, floods and casualties. In some areas of Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand the precipitations norms were exceeded in 1.5-2.5 times.
In the beginning of November the summer monsoon yet continued to dominate in the south of India, where it was 100-150mm of the rain over the day. However, in the most part of the country the dry season had already been dominating.
In the Central Asia, Middle East it was dry. But it did not cancelled some heavy showers in Uzbekistan, Transcaucasia and the south of Turkey. In Tashkent 36 mm of rain fell over the day, in Lenkoran over the 12 hours – 52mm, in the first case it has set 80%, in the second one – about one third of monthly norm.
In Africa it was absence of atmospheric precipitations. Only some rains fell along the coast of Mediterranean sea in Algeria, Tunisia and Gulf of Guinea in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon.
In was norm and more of precipitations in Central and East European countries. In Germany their monthly sums one can describe as positive. There were not only rains, but snow, which is seen by the inhabitants of Old World in the first half of November, as a rule, once in 3-4 years. In Greece the rains caused the flood in Athens suburbs. There were human losses, bridges and roads were destroyed. Also France and Italy suffered from the rains. In Venice the rains fell for several days and brought three monthly precipitations norms. Another problem was in Portugal and Spain. Here the drought dominated during the last half of the year. It was not such dry conditions in the region more than 10 years. Dry weather caused fires and crop losses. According to local farmers’ estimation, grain harvest in this year will set only 70% from the last year harvest, including olives – less than 50%. Decreasing of water level in reservoirs caused the decreasing of electrical energy elaboration almost in 2 times.
In the most part of Canada the monthly precipitations sums have set roughly the norm. Only east of Quebec and northern territories had more than the norm and less the norm – in Yukon province. Quite another situation is in the USA. Here the precipitations norms were reached only in Grand Lakes area and in the north-west of Washington, Oregon and Idaho states. All other territory of the country has got very dry November. Everywhere the precipitations have set only the half of the monthly norm and less. In the states of Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico there are areas with entire absence of rains during the month. In Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas it was the third driest November on the record. Mexico was without rains.
The last Autumn appeared very wet in the east of Europe, north-east of Asia, south of India and east of Canada. Abnormally dry weather prevailed in the Middle East, most part of the North Africa, south-west of Europe (France, Spain, Portugal) and in the USA. In some US areas it was the driest Autumn on the record.
In Moscow it have fallen 46mm of precipitations over the November, or 79% of the norm. The snow appeared in October for the first time, then it has melted, but in the middle of November the snow cover was formed once again. In Moscow area its depth reached 3-7 cm.