Tropical
Highlights - May 2019
Sea surface
temperatures (SSTs) remained above-average across
the equatorial Pacific during May 2019 (Fig.
T18, Table T2). The latest
monthly
Niņo indices were +0.2°C for the Niņo 1+2
region, +0.7°C
for the Niņo 3.4 region and +0.8°C for the Niņo 4 region (Table T2,
Fig. T5). The depth
of the oceanic thermocline (measured by the depth of the 20°C isotherm) was slightly
above-average across much of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific (Figs.
T15, T16), and the corresponding sub-surface
temperatures were 1-2°C above average (Fig.
T17).
Also during May, the lower-level
easterly winds were weaker-than-average (indicated by westerly anomalies)
across the equatorial Pacific (Table T1, Fig. T20). The upper-level
wind anomalies were easterly over much of the equatorial Pacific (Fig. T21). Meanwhile,
tropical convection was enhanced over the central equatorial Pacific and
suppressed over Indonesia (Figs. T25, E3).
Collectively, these oceanic and atmospheric anomalies reflected the
continuation of El Niņo.
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
www.nws.noaa.gov
