Tropical
Highlights - October 2018
Sea surface
temperatures (SSTs) remained above-average across
the equatorial Pacific during October 2018 (Fig. T18, Table T2).
The latest monthly
Niņo indices were +1.0°C for the Niņo 4
region, and +0.9°C
for the Niņo 3.4 and Niņo 3 regions
(Table T2,
Fig. T5). The depth
of the oceanic thermocline (measured by the depth of the 20°C isotherm) was above-average
across the equatorial Pacific (Figs. T15, T16), and the
corresponding sub-surface temperatures were 1-4°C above average (Fig. T17).
Also during October, the lower-level
easterly winds were weaker-than-average (indicated by westerly anomalies) across
much of the eastern equatorial Pacific (Table
T1, Fig. T20), while
the upper-level westerly winds anomalies were near-average over the central and
eastern equatorial Pacific (Fig. T21). Meanwhile, convection was suppressed across
Indonesia and the central equatorial Pacific (Figs. T25, E3). Collectively, these oceanic and
atmospheric anomalies reflect ENSO-neutral conditions with a tendency towards a
developing 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