Summary for the World

Synopsis: ENSO-Neutral conditions are slightly favored (between 55-60%) during the upcoming Northern Hemisphere fall and winter 2016-17.

ENSO-Neutral conditions were observed over the past month, although sea surface temperatures (SSTs) were below-average over the east-central equatorial Pacific Ocean. While the Niño-3.4 and Niño-3 regions remained around -0.5°C for most of the month, Niño-4 and Niño 1+2 were -0.1°C and +0.3°C, respectively, by the end of the month. Subsurface temperatures across the eastern and central Pacific remained below average, and negative temperature anomalies remained weak across the western Pacific. Atmospheric anomalies over the tropical Pacific Ocean largely indicated ENSO-Neutral conditions. The traditional Southern Oscillation index and the equatorial Southern Oscillation index were weakly positive during August. The lower-level winds were near average, while the upper-level winds were anomalously westerly in a small region to the east of the International Date Line. Convection was suppressed over the western and central tropical Pacific, although less suppressed compared to last month. Overall, the combined ocean and atmosphere system continues to reflect ENSO-Neutral.

The multi-model averages favor borderline Neutral-La Niña conditions (3-month average Niño-3.4 index less than or equal to -0.5°C) during the Northern Hemisphere fall, continuing into winter. However, the more recently updated model runs from the North American Multi-Model Ensemble (NMME) more strongly favor ENSO-Neutral. The forecaster consensus prefers this outcome, which is supported by the lack of significant anomalies in several indicators over the past month (winds, convection, subsurface temperatures). Overall, ENSO-Neutral conditions are slightly favored (between 55-60%) during the upcoming Northern Hemisphere fall and winter 2016-17.

October Wind

Most landmasses will experience average wind conditions for the month.

October Solar Radiation

Much of the northern half of the northern hemisphere should be below normal while the mid-latitudes and tropics should be slightly below normal and the southern latitudes near normal except much of Australia and New Zealand and southern South America and Southern Africa should be above normal.

October Temperature Extreme Forecast Index

Much of Central North America and South America are forecast as usually low while similar conditions prevail in much of Africa and China and Central Asia. Warm episodes are limited to Western Europe, the eastern Arctic, and the eastern South Pacific and insular SE Asia and southwestern USA and the Pacific from east to west from Hawaii south to near the equator.

October Precipitation Extreme Forecast Index

In the western hemisphere low precipitation events are forecast for the SE Florida and around the Gulf states of the USA and southeastern Caribbean and northern South America. Higher than normal rainfall events area also expected in Argentina and Bolivia. Usual high is forecast for Hawaii to very unusually high just to the south of Hawaii.

In SE Asia and unusually low rainfall is forecast through the western island portion of the region and southern China. Also in the Central Pacific both above and below the equator and also in northern Indonesia unusually high rainfall is expected.

Extreme rainfall events are possible in Ethiopia and also in the interior of West Africa (Mali, Burkina Faso and Nigeria) and eastern Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and southern Iraq as well as eastern Iran and western Afghanistan across to far western China. Through much of Europe and continental north Asia usual normal to usual high conditions prevail with extreme rainfall possible in northern Spain and southern France.

October Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly

Warmer than normal conditions prevail in the western North Atlantic and near normal conditions elsewhere. In the South Atlantic warmer than normal conditions prevail except along the coast of southern Brazil and Argentina that are cooler than normal.

The Northern Pacific is near normal with ENSO neutral conditions prevailing with cooler to near normal waters in the eastern tropical Pacific. The far northern Pacific should be considerably warmer than normal as well as the Arctic sea. The South Pacific is warmer than normal off the South American coast and also in the western South Pacific near Australia and New Zealand while the central South Pacific is near normal.

The Indian Ocean is warmer than normal from north to south in the eastern region near Indonesia, and normal to cooler than normal South of India and Sri Lanka with cooler than normal water off the coast of Africa and also off the coast of southwestern Australia.

October Global Precipitation Anomaly

North and South America near normal with slightly wetter conditions in Central North America and also northwest South America and part of western Mexico and northern Brazil into Suriname and Guyana.

Southeast Asia looks near normal north of the Equator and wetter than normal south of Equator while India is normal to slightly drier than normal. Much of Bangladesh and western Myanmar is likely to be wetter than normal and most of southern China wetter than normal and north Asia near normal to slightly wetter than normal.

Much of Africa should be near normal except from Cameroon and to the west that should be wetter than normal. The Middle East and western central Asia should be near normal. Europe should be near normal.

October Global Temperature Anomaly

Much of North America, the Caribbean, and Central and northern South America should be warmer than normal except for western Mexico that should be cooler than normal. Argentina and Southern Brazil should be cooler than normal.

New Zealand the eastern third and northern part of Australia should be warmer than normal and southwestern and central Australia cooler than normal and all of east and Southeast Asia should be warmer than normal with India and eastern Pakistan near normal. Southwest India should be warmer than normal as well as western China and Tibet.

Central Africa should be cooler than normal and Southern Africa warmer than normal. The Middle East and Iran and Afghanistan should be cooler than normal. Northern Asia to the Arctic should be considerably warmer than normal. Most of Europe should be near normal.

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