2008 was the tenth warmest year on record. In early 2008, snow storms, cold wave s, extreme low temperature and freezing weather blanketed the regions from south eastern Europe to China through West Asia; and consecutive snow storms hit North America. Severe drought persisted in northern China from boreal winter to sprin g. During summer, rain storms and floods raided East Asia, South Asia, mideast Europe and the Mississippi River and its tributaries. During 2008, severe droug ht condition maintained in Australia. The La Nina event came to the end in May. The Northern Hemisphere snow cover extent in January was the largest on record. During the year, tropical cyclone activities were weaker than normal in the Nort hwest Pacific while those were near normal in the Atlantic Ocean.