GLOBAL WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS

DECEMBER 2004

UNITED STATES
West

Wet weather in areas of the western United States during November and into
December ameliorated drought conditions in parts of the region, with areas of
the Southwest receiving some of the most beneficial precipitation. Extreme to
exceptional drought persisted farther north throughout portions of the northern
and central Rockies.

A major storm system affected parts of the western United States during
December 27-29, bringing a variety of weather conditions to the region. Heavy
rainfall broke daily precipitation records at some locations in California,
with Los Angeles breaking a daily rainfall record for the month of December
5.55 inches fell on the 28th. This was the third wettest calendar day in Los
Angeles since
records began in 1877. Very heavy snow fell across the Sierra Nevada Mountains,
with some areas receiving several feet of accumulation. Winds with this weather
system gusted over 65 mph at some coastal and mountain locations in California.

Ohio Valley

The first widespread, significant lake-effect snowfall event of the season
occurred on December 14. Locally 4-10 inches of snow fell downwind of the Great
Lakes. Heavy accumulations of snow and ice blanketed areas of Kentucky, Ohio,
Indiana and Michigan, breaking daily snowfall records in some locations.
Accumulations exceeded 20 inches in parts of Kentucky and Indiana.

Southern Plains

Snow fell on Christmas Day in Deep South Texas. In Corpus Christi, snow totaled
4.4 inches, and it was only the second White Christmas ever in Corpus Christi.
Farther north in Victoria, 12.5 inches of snow fell, making it the first White
Christmas on record for Victoria.

Southeast

Snow fell across the coastal plain of North Carolina and into southeast
Virginia on the 26th. Snowfall accumulations of 4-8 inches were reported in
areas of North Carolina, with locally 12 inches in the Hampton Roads area of
Virginia.

AFRICA
Great Horn

Long-term drought continued across areas of the Greater Horn of Africa. Lake
Victoria water levels were much below normal, leading to problems downstream in
the form of irrigation concerns and a lack of drinking water.

INDIA

Across Sri Lanka, heavy monsoon rains produced flooding across northern and
eastern parts of the country during early to mid-December. At least 6 people
were killed by flooding, while 750,000 were rendered homeless. The northeast
monsoon reason runs from December through January.

ASIA

In Malaysia, heavy rainfall over the eastern part of the country caused
flooding that forced the evacuation of more than 6,000 people. Floodwaters in
the city of Kelantan closed stores and offices on the 12th.

Typhoon Nanmadol developed on November 28 in the western Pacific Ocean and
reached typhoon intensity the next day. Nanmadol tracked over Luzon Island in
the northern Philippines on the December 2 with maximum sustained winds near
140 mph, causing significant damage. Heavy rains, exacerbated by the cumulative
rainfall from three prior tropical cyclones caused extensive flooding.
Fatalities from the four tropical systems were blamed for almost 1,800 deaths
since November 2004.

MIDDLE EAST

In Iran, heavy rainfall in the southern province of Bushehr produced flooding
that was blamed for the deaths of 17 people in traffic accidents.