Tropical
Highlights - January 2016
Sea surface temperatures (SSTs) remained well
above-average across the central and eastern equatorial
Pacific during January 2016 (Fig. T18, Table T2). The latest
monthly
Niņo indices were +2.6°C for the Niņo 3
region, +2.6°C
for the Niņo 3.4 region, and +1.4°C for the Niņo 1+2 region (Table
T2, Fig. T5). The depth of the oceanic thermocline
(measured by the depth of the 20°C isotherm) also remained above-average across
the eastern equatorial Pacific (Figs. T15, T16), and
the corresponding sub-surface temperatures were 1-5°C above average (Fig. T17).
Also
during January, the low-level westerly wind anomalies and upper-level easterly
wind anomalies remained strong across the central and eastern equatorial
Pacific (Table T1,
Figs. T20, T21).
Meanwhile, enhanced convection persisted across the central and east-central equatorial
Pacific and suppressed convection was observed over Indonesia and western
equatorial Pacific (Figs. T25, E3).
Collectively, these oceanic and atmospheric anomalies reflect the continuation
of a strong 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
