Tropical Highlights - May 2022

 

 

During May 2022, sea surface temperatures (SSTs) remained below-average across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific (Fig. T18). The latest monthly Niño indices based on OISSTV2.1 were -1.4°C for the Niño 1+2 region, -1.1°C for the Niño 3.4 region and -0.9°C for the Niño 4 region (Table T2). The depth of the oceanic thermocline (measured by the depth of the 20°C isotherm) was below-average across the eastern equatorial Pacific (Figs. T15, T16). The corresponding sub-surface temperatures were 1-5°C below-average across the eastern equatorial Pacific (Fig. T17).

 

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