Tropical Highlights - October 2023

 

During October 2023, sea surface temperatures (SSTs) remained well above-average across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific (Fig. T18). The latest monthly Ni�o indices were +2.5C for the Ni�o 1+2 region, +1.6C for the Ni�o 3.4 region and +2.0C for the Ni�o 3 region (Table T2). The depth of the oceanic thermocline (measured by the depth of the 20C isotherm) was above-average across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific (Figs. T15, T16). The corresponding sub-surface temperatures were 1-5C above-average in the far eastern equatorial Pacific (Fig. T17).

 

Also during October, the lower-level wind anomalies were westerly over much of the equatorial Pacific, while the upper-level wind anomalies were easterly over the western and central equatorial Pacific (Table T1, Figs. T20, T21). Meanwhile, tropical convection was enhanced across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific and suppressed over Indonesia (Fig. T25). Collectively, these oceanic and atmospheric anomalies were consistent with strong El Ni�o 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