Tropical Highlights - May 2024

 

During May 2024, sea surface temperatures (SSTs) continued to decrease across the equatorial Pacific (Fig. T18). The latest monthly Nino indices were -0.7C for the Nino 1+2 region, +0.3C for the Nino 3.4 region and +0.7C for the Nino 4 region (Table T2). The depth of the oceanic thermocline (measured by the depth of the 20C isotherm) was below-average across the equatorial Pacific (Figs. T15, T16). The corresponding sub-surface temperatures were 1-7C below-average in the far eastern equatorial Pacific (Fig. T17).

 

Also during May, lower-level wind anomalies were easterly over much of the equatorial Pacific, while upper-level wind anomalies were near average across the equatorial Pacific (Table T1, Figs. T20, T21). Meanwhile, tropical convection was slightly suppressed around the Date Line and was near average around 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