Summary for the South Pacific

Synopsis: La Niña is favored to develop during August - October 2016, with about a 55-60% chance of La Niña during the spring and summer 2016-17.

ENSO-neutral conditions were observed during the past month, as indicated by near-to-below average surface temperatures (SST) across the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. While the Niño-4 region was slightly above average, the other Niño indices were either slightly below average or near zero during June. Below-average subsurface temperatures continued and extended to the surface in parts of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. Atmospheric anomalies over the tropical Pacific Ocean also indicated ENSO-neutral conditions. The traditional Southern Oscillation index was slightly positive while the equatorial Southern Oscillation index was near zero. The upper and lower-level winds were both near average across most of the tropical Pacific. Convection was slightly suppressed over portions of the western tropical Pacific and enhanced over part of Indonesia. Collectively, these atmospheric and oceanic anomalies reflect ENSO-neutral conditions.

Many models favor La Niña (3-month average Niño-3.4 index less than or equal to -0.5°C) by the end of the Southern Hemisphere winter, continuing during spring and lasting into summer. Statistical models predict a later onset time (i.e., mid-fall) than dynamical models, and also predict a relatively weaker event. The forecaster consensus is somewhat of a compromise between the two model types, favoring La Niña onset during the August-October season, and predicting a weak event (Niño-3.4 index between -0.5°C and -1.0°C), if an event were to form. Overall, ENSO-neutral conditions currently prevail and La Niña is favored to develop by August - October 2016, with about a 55-60% chance of La Niña during the spring and summer 2016-17.

September Temperature

The entire region should be slightly to moderately warmer than normal.

September Precipitation

Most of PNG should be near normal to slightly wetter than normal. Most of the Solomon Islands should be wetter than normal while Vanuatu should be drier than normal. Nauru should be much drier than along with Kiribati. Tuvalu should be wetter than normal with Fiji and New Caledonia near normal.

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