Summary for SE Asia

Synopsis: A transition to ENSO-neutral is likely during late Northern Hemisphere spring or early summer 2016, with close to a 50 percent chance for La Niña conditions to develop by the fall.

Sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies decreased across most of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean during February. The latest Niño-3.4 and Niño-3 weekly values were near 2°C, while the Niño-4 and Niño-1+2 indices were 1°C and 1.4°C respectively. The subsurface temperature anomalies in the central and eastern Pacific decreased substantially in association with the eastward shift of below-average temperatures at depth. Low-level westerly wind anomalies and upper-level easterly wind anomalies continued, but were weaker relative to January. The traditional and equatorial Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) remained strongly negative. In addition, convection was much enhanced over the central and east-central tropical Pacific and suppressed over parts of Indonesia and northern Australia. Collectively, these anomalies reflect the continuation of a strong El Niño.

All models indicate that El Niño will weaken, with a transition to ENSO-neutral likely during the late spring or early summer 2016. Thereafter, the chance of La Niña conditions increases into the fall. While there is both model and physical support for La Niña following a strong El Niño, considerable uncertainty remains. A transition to ENSO-neutral is likely during late Northern Hemisphere spring or early summer 2016, with close to a 50 percent chance for La Niña conditions to develop by the fall.

ENSO events typically translate to drier than normal conditions in the northern and mainland portions of SE Asia.

May Temperature

The entire region should be moderately to unusually warmer than normal especially mainland SE Asia except for Northern Myanmar that should be slightly cooler than normal.

May Precipitation

Much of Mainland SE Asia should be moderately to severely drier than normal except for northern Myanmar that should be near normal to slightly wetter than normal. The Philippines is near normal to slightly wetter than normal and to the southeast with more of the northern part of the Indonesian archipelago and most of Borneo being near normal to slightly wetter than normal. West Papua is drier than normal. Sumatra and Singapore and eastern and Peninsular Malaysia are near normal while West Java and Surabaya regions are near normal and east is slightly drier in some areas and slightly wetter in others.

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