Thursday, May 2, 2013

El Nino-Southern Oscillation Discussion: May 2013

This is a discussion of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation for May 2013.

This animation of sea surface temperature anomalies from early February through late April shows conditions of water temperatures from the western Pacific to the eastern Pacific. Beginning in February and lasting through mid-March, we saw a weak strand of below-normal sea surface temperatures stretching on a nearly straight west-east line from the northwest South American coastline. This strand of slightly cooler than normal temperature anomalies dissipated by late March, bringing an end to whatever slight La Nina (colder than normal sea surface temperatures) may have otherwise developed. Beginning in the closing days of March, we began to see a warming trend across the same region of the eastern Pacific Ocean. However, because the waters were not sustained and not warm enough, an El Nino (warmer than normal sea surface temperatures) event did not develop. Since the beginning of April, ENSO-Neutral conditions have prevailed, with no defined El Nino or La Nina present at this time.

Mike Ventrice
Image above depicts the current situation that is ongoing across the world's oceans with several different weather parameters. We begin with the top image, showing unfiltered VP200 anomalies. In a nutshell, a higher anomaly of this indicator tells one that tropical convection is enhanced in the area. A glance at our second indicator, labeled MJO, shows us that this tropical convection idea is true. A large swath of positive anomalies is outlined on the MJO indicator across the Indian Ocean and east towards the Philippines. The positive anomaly placed in those regions means that the Madden-Julian Oscillation is in Phases 1-2. When the MJO is in Phases 1-2, effects on the United States' weather include above normal precipitation in the central and east US, as well as below normal temperatures in the same regions. The expectation is for this MJO wave to strengthen and push east across the Pacific Ocean to progress the Madden-Julian Oscillation through its middle phases 3-5. These phases provoke slightly warmer and generally drier weather. As the MJO wave moves east, a Kelvin Wave already forming in the waters northwest of Australia should also push east. In the third image on the bottom, we see a highlighted blue oval, suggesting the presence of a Kelvin wave that will most likely move east with the MJO progression. As they both push east, the Kelvin wave should act to bolster attempts at producing an El Nino, as the Kelvin wave is known to enhance convection and boost warmer waters over the eastern Equatorial Pacific.

Summary
The ENSO state at the present time is: NEUTRAL
The presence of a Kelvin wave is: CONFIRMED
Likelihood of a changing ENSO state within 3 months: POSSIBLE

Andrew

East Pacific Hurricane Season Eyeing Quick Start

The East Pacific hurricane season appears to be looking for a quick start, with a long range forecast seeing rising probabilities of tropical cyclone formation in the region to end May.

The image above shows tropical cyclone probabilities for May 29th across the globe. Areas with warm colors indicate an increased risk of formation. This forecast, created by the University of Albany's Paul Roundy, shows the increased probabilities off the western coast of Mexico. June 1st is the official start date of the Atlantic hurricane season, while May 15th signals the beginning of the tropical season in the East Pacific. It is not uncommon to see a tropical season get off to a rather quick start, and does not necessarily mean a more active year. As of now, it appears that the probabilities for tropical cyclone formation begin to increase going into the last week of May. I have reviewed many forecasts from this source over the last few weeks, and have found them to be rather consistent. If this does pan out, folks from Acapulco to La Pez may want to watch the tropics around the start of June to see if any trouble is brewing.

I will have more on this potential as it develops throughout the next couple of weeks.

Andrew