Tropical Highlights – October 2013

 

 

 During October 2013, the sea surface temperatures (SSTs) remained near-average across the central and east-central equatorial Pacific, and below average in the eastern equatorial Pacific (Fig. T18, Table T2). The latest monthly Niño indices were -0.3°C for the Niño 3.4 region and -0.6°C for the Niño 1+2 region (Table T2, Fig. T5). Consistent with these conditions, the depth of the oceanic thermocline (measured by the depth of the 20°C isotherm) remained near-average across the central and east-central equatorial Pacific (Figs. T15, T16).

Also during October, the low-level easterly trade winds remained near-average across the equatorial Pacific (Table T1, Fig. T20), and tropical convection remained slightly enhanced over Indonesia (Figs. T25, E3). Collectively, these oceanic and atmospheric anomalies reflect a continuation of ENSO-neutral conditions.

 

 

For the latest status of the ENSO cycle see the ENSO Diagnostic Discussion at: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/index.html