The canonical correlation analysis (CCA) forecast of SST in the central Pacific (Barnett et al. 1988, Science, 241, 192-196; Barnston and Ropelewski 1992, J. Climate, 5, 1316-1345), is shown in Figs. F1 and F2. This forecast is produced routinely by the Prediction Branch of the Climate Prediction Center. The predictions from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) coupled ocean/atmosphere model (Ji et al. 1998, Mon. Wea. Rev, 126, 1022-1034) are presented in Figs. F3 and F4a, F4b.  Predictions from the Markov model (Xue, Y., A. Leetmaa, and M. Ji, 2000: ENSO prediction with Markov model: The impact of sea level. J. Climate, 13, 849-871) are shown in Figs. F5 and F6.   Predictions from the latest version of the LDEO model (Chen, D., M. A. Cane, S. E. Zebiak, Rafael Canizares and A. Kaplan, 2000, Geophys. Res. Let., 27, 2585-2587) are shown in Figs. F7 and F8. Predictions using linear inverse modeling (Penland and Magorian 1993, J. Climate, 6, 1067-1076) are shown in Figs. F9 and F10. Predictions from the Scripps / Max Planck Institute (MPI) hybrid coupled model (Barnett et al. 1993, J. Climate, 6, 1545-1566) are shown in Fig. F11.   Predictions from the ENSO-CLIPER statistical model (Knaff, J. A. and C. W. Landsea 1997, Wea. Forecasting, 12, 633-652) are shown in Fig. F12.

The CPC and the contributors to the Forecast Forum caution potential users of this predictive information that they can expect only modest skill.

Outlook

Based on the observed oceanic and atmospheric conditions and the SST predictions, warm episode (El Niño) conditions are expected to continue through the spring of 2003.

Discussion

Further evolution of warm episode (El Niño) conditions occurred in the tropical Pacific during November 2002. SST anomalies (departures from average) were greater than +1°C throughout the equatorial Pacific between 170°E and the South American coast during the month (Fig. T18). Positive subsurface temperature departures (Fig. T17) and a deeper-than-average oceanic thermocline (Figs. T15 and T16) prevailed throughout the equatorial Pacific east of 170°E. Negative subsurface temperature departures and a shallower-than-average oceanic thermocline were observed west of 170°E, consistent with El Niño conditions.

Most atmospheric indicators remained consistent with the ongoing warm episode during November (Table T1). The low-level equatorial easterly winds over the Pacific basin exhibited considerable week-to-week variability during the month in response to Tropical intraseasonal (Madden Julian Oscillation) activity (Table T1; Fig. T13; Fig. T20). Wetter-than-average conditions were observed over the tropical Pacific, especially in the vicinity of the date line (180°W) and over southeastern South America, while drier-than-average conditions prevailed over portions of Indonesia, eastern Australia and southern Africa (Fig. T25; Fig. E3). These oceanic and atmospheric conditions indicate the presence of El Niño.

Most coupled model and statistical model forecasts indicate that El Niño conditions will continue through the Northern Hemisphere spring of 2003 (Figs. F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8, F9, F10, F11, F12). Thereafter the forecasts are more uncertain, though most models indicate a continuation of El Niño conditions through the summer. This uncertainty arises during a time of the year when all of the techniques have difficulty in making skillful forecasts. It is also worth noting that most of the forecasts have underestimated the observed positive SST anomalies in recent months. Based on the recent evolution of conditions in the tropical Pacific, we expect SST anomalies to increase further in the eastern equatorial Pacific (Niño 3 and Niño 1+2 regions) during the next few months.

Expected global impacts include: 1) drier-than-average over Indonesia and eastern Australia continuing during the next several months, 2) drier-than-average over southeastern Africa during December 2002-February 2003, 3) drier-than-average over Northeast Brazil and northern South America during December 2002-April 2003, and 4) wetter-than-average conditions over coastal sections of Ecuador and northern Peru during December 2002-April 2003. Over the United States and Canada we expect: 1) drier-than-average conditions in the Ohio Valley states and northern Rockies during winter 2002-2003, 2) wetter-than-average conditions along much of the southern tier of the U.S. during winter 2002-2003, and 3) warmer-than-average conditions in the northern tier states, southern and southeastern Alaska, and western and central Canada during late fall 2002 and winter 2002-2003.

Weekly updates of SST, 850-hPa wind, OLR, and the equatorial subsurface temperature structure are available on the Climate Prediction Center homepage at: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov (Weekly Update).