GLOBAL WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS

FEBRUARY 2006

UNITED STATES
Southwest and southern Plains

Across the United States, significant drought extended from the Desert
Southwest eastward through the Southern Plains. Exceptional drought
classification continued through parts of Texas and into adjacent
sections of Oklahoma and Arkansas.

Severe thunderstorms produced two tornadoes that affected the New
Orleans, Louisiana area during the early morning of February 2. The
tornadoes affected neighborhoods ravaged by Hurricane Katrina, tearing
off roofs, knocking down utility poles and collapsing at least one
Katrina-damaged house.

MID-ATLANTIC AND NORTHEAST

A major winter snowstorm affected areas of the Mid-Atlantic and
Northeast during
February 11-12, 2006. In New York City's Central Park, where
record-keeping began in 1869, 68.3 cm (26.9 inches) of snow fell
between 4 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday, breaking the previous storm
total record of 67.1 cm (26.4) inches set during a December 26-27, 1947
storm.

AFRICA
eastern

A severe long-term drought continued throughout southern Ethiopia,
southern Somalia, northeastern Kenya, as well as adjacent areas of
eastern Uganda and Tanzania. Drought in Somalia was characterized as
the worst in a decade. In all, an estimated 11 million people in East
Africa and the Horn of Africa continued to face critical food shortages
brought about in part by the continuing drought (IRIN).

North

A large dust storm affected areas of north Africa and adjacent areas of
the eastern Mediterranean region during late February, producing major
reductions in visibility over a large area.

In Algeria, rare heavy rainfall in the Sahara Desert region of Tindouf
produced severe flooding. The rain fell during the 10th-11th in a
desert region of Algeria not far from the Moroccan and Mauritanian
borders. Approximately 50,000
people were affected, with one fatality reported (OCHA/AFP).

MIDDLE EAST

Heavy rainfall in northern Iraq produced extensive river flooding that
displaced an estimated 7,000 families. The most affected areas included
the towns of Erbil, Sallahaddin, Kirkuk, Dyiala and Missan (IFRC).

In Yemen, heavy rainfall resulted in flash flooding on the 20th in the
southwestern city of Dhamar. Floodwaters trapped around 1,900 people in
their homes, and there were at least 5 deaths (AFP).

INDONESIA

In Papua New Guinea, heavy rainfall produced significant flooding in
the northwestern part of the country's Central Province during mid
February. The flooding rendered an estimated 10,000 people homeless and
one fatality (IFRC)

ASIA

Across eastern Indonesia, landslides and floods caused by torrential
rain on the 21st killed at least 33 people in the city of Manado
(OCHA).

RUSSIA

In Serbia, heavy rain and melting snow produced significant flooding in
the province of Kosovo in late February. Flooding in at least fourteen
municipalities forced the evacuation of an estimated 200 families
(around 1,200 people) from their homes (IFRC).

INDIAN OCEAN

Tropical Cyclone Boloetse, which formed in late January, affected
Madagascar for a second time in early February as it tracked
southeastward from the Mozambique Channel during the 4th-5th. While the
cyclone remained offshore, it tracked close enough to the coastline to
displace over 6,000 people, as nearly 2,500 private homes were damaged
or destroyed in the extreme southern part of the country (UNICEF).

Tropical Cyclone 12S developed in the south Indian Ocean, affecting
Mauritius on the 19th-20th. Maximum sustained winds with the cyclone
reached 85 km/hr (45 knots or 50 mph) before weakening as the system
moved very slowly.

Tropical Cyclone Emma developed in the south Indian Ocean on the 27th
and made
landfall in Western Australia's remote Pilbara coast on the 28th with
maximum sustained winds near 65 km/hr (35 knots or 40 mph). Heavy rain
was the primary impact from the storm, although Emma's approach
prompted precautionary shutdowns of mining, oil and shipping operations
(AAP).