Monthly mean maps for precipitation and temperature (observed and anomaly) with a summary of the monthly meteorological situation


This analysis is based on observational data of precipitation and temperature. For a monthly analysis based on ERA5 reanalysis, please see the Climate bulletins produced by Copernicus Climate Change Service

Meteorological situation for November 2019

Figure 1. Accumulated precipitation [mm] for November 2019.
Figure 1. Accumulated precipitation [mm] for November 2019.
Figure 2. Precipitation anomaly [%] for November 2019, relative to a long-term average (1990-2013). Blue (red) denotes wetter (drier) conditions than normal.
Figure 2. Precipitation anomaly [%] for November 2019, relative to a long-term average (1990-2013). Blue (red) denotes wetter (drier) conditions than normal.
Figure 3. Mean temperature [°C] for November 2019.
Figure 3. Mean temperature [°C] for November 2019.
Figure 4. Temperature anomaly [°C] for November 2019, relative to a long-term average (1990-2013). Blue (red) denotes colder (warmer) temperatures than normal.
Figure 4. Temperature anomaly [°C] for November 2019, relative to a long-term average (1990-2013). Blue (red) denotes colder (warmer) temperatures than normal.

The meteorological situation in November 2019 was characterised by a lower than normal monthly mean surface pressure in the central and southern parts of the EFAS domain reflecting the recurring occurrence of low-pressure systems, whereas it was higher than normal in the north of the EFAS domain. Monthly precipitation totals were below normal in the southeast and African parts of the EFAS domain as well as in the northwest and a band from southern Germany to Estonia. The highest positive monthly precipitation anomalies were observed in the central Mediterranean region. Monthly mean air temperatures were below normal in the western and eastern parts of the EFAS domain and above normal in between.

 

As in October, floods in Great Britain in the first days of November were the result of heavy precipitation in the last days of October and first days of November from a low-pressure system over Great Britain and Ireland. France and the northern parts of the Iberian Peninsula received also large precipitation amounts. In addition, heavy precipitation occurred in the northern central Mediterranean region in these days. Another low-pressure system moved over the Barents Sea eastward, but brought no significant precipitation amounts. Later, a low-pressure system moved from Greenland to the English Channel initiating a flow of cold air to the Iberian Peninsula and western Mediterranean region and led to snowfall in the northern mountains at the Iberian Peninsula as well as at the Balearic Islands. This low-pressure system moved eastward and dissipated. At the western edge of the corresponding upper-level through cold air moved again to the western Mediterranean region and initiated the formation of a low-pressure system. This low-pressure system brought rain and snowfall to France, Italy, Tunisia and Algeria. While continuing its path to the Eastern Alps, it caused intense precipitation along its track. At the same time, a high-pressure system was in Eastern Europe and a low-pressure system moved from Greenland to the North Sea. Another low-pressure system moved from the same region to France and dissipated there. Cold air thus moved to the central Mediterranean region which led to intense convective precipitation and the formation of several low-pressure systems in the central Mediterranean region. In addition, intense snowfall occurred in the southern Alpine region (Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia). Persistent south-easterly winds from these low-pressure systems along the Adriatic Sea in conjunction with spring tides caused several “acqua alta” events in Venice. As another low-pressure system moved from Greenland via the Bay of Biscay to the central Mediterranean region and dissipated there, a high-pressure system over eastern Europe started to move eastward. The low-pressure system caused not only large precipitation amounts in the central Mediterranean region but also at the Iberian Peninsula and around the Aegean Sea. In the last days of November, one more low-pressure system moved from Newfoundland via the North Sea to northern Scandinavia and caused moderate precipitation amounts along its track. The African part of the EFAS domain was influenced by the eastward shifted Azores high-pressure system.

 

In November 2019, the highest precipitation totals were observed at the western and northern coasts in the central Mediterranean region as well as around the Bay of Biscay and the northern and western coast of the Iberian Peninsula (Figure 1). No or only very little precipitation fell in parts of northern Africa and north of the Caspian Sea. More than normal precipitation was observed in many parts of southern and western Europe, southern Scandinavia and the coastal regions of northern Africa (Figure 2). Less than normal precipitation fell in Iceland, the Scandinavian mountains, a band from southern Germany to Estonia and the eastern parts of the EFAS domain.

The monthly mean air temperature ranged from -19.3°C to 26.2°C with the highest values in the southern parts and lowest in the northern and mountainous parts of the EFAS domain (Figure 3). Air temperature anomalies ranged from -8.3°C to 7.9°C (Figure 4). Monthly mean air temperature values were above the long-term mean in a band from the eastern half of northern Africa northward over eastern Europe up to the White Sea. eastward and westward of this band the monthly mean air temperatures were below the long term means.