Tropical Highlights – May 2014

 

 

 During May 2014, sea surface temperatures (SSTs) were above-average across much of the eastern and central equatorial Pacific (Fig. T18, Table T2). The latest monthly Niño indices were +0.5°C for the Niño 3.4 region and +1.3°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) was above-average across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific (Figs. T15, T16), with corresponding sub-surface temperatures being 2-5°C above average (Fig. T17).

Also during May, the low-level easterly trade winds remained near-average across the central and east-central equatorial Pacific (Table T1, Fig. T20). Meanwhile, tropical convection was near average over much of the equatorial Pacific (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