Tropical Highlights - February 2023

 

 

During February 2023, below-average sea surface temperatures (SSTs) persisted but weakened across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific (Fig. T18). The latest monthly Niño indices based on OISSTV2.1 were +0.7C for the Niño 1+2 region, -0.4C for the Niño 3.4 region and -0.5C for the Niño 4 region (Table T2). The depth of the oceanic thermocline (measured by the depth of the 20C isotherm) was below-average in the far eastern equatorial Pacific (Figs. T15, T16). The corresponding sub-surface temperatures were 1-2C below-average (Fig. T17).

 

Also during February, the lower-level easterly winds and upper-level westerly winds were above-average across most of the equatorial Pacific (Table T1, Figs. T20, T21). Meanwhile, tropical convection was suppressed over the central equatorial Pacific and enhanced over Indonesia (Fig. T25). Collectively, these oceanic and atmospheric anomalies were consistent with 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