IRI Climate Information Digest - June 1999

Issued 13 July 1999

NOAA NCEP EMC CMB GLOBAL
monthly Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly

Highlights The central equatorial Pacific Ocean continues to be characterized by weak La Nina conditions, exhibited by below average sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the region. These conditions are likely to continue, with possibly a strengthening of the cold anomaly into the northern hemisphere winter, according to numerical model predictions. In other parts of the world oceans, the western Pacific and southeastern Indian oceans are continuing to experience warmer than average SSTs. The equatorial Atlantic Ocean is also experiencing above average temperatures, as are portions of the northern and southern Atlantic, particularly the west coast of central and southern Africa.

Precipitation June rainfall anomalies associated with the on-going La Nina include drier than normal conditions in the central equatorial Pacific and higher than average rainfall in the west Pacific. Summer monsoon rains are underway in several regions of the world. In India accumulated rainfall exceeded average amounts through the end of June. In west Africa, the coast along the Gulf of Guinea has received abundant rainfall in the regions where warm Atlantic waters are present, while the the rainy season in the Sahel has had a slow start with early reports of below average rainfall. The North American monsoon has begun with much needed rainfall for northern Mexico. Drier than average conditions have evolved in the eastern seaboard of the United States. Below average rainfall has continued in Chile.

Temperature Above average temperatures have dominated Africa, and much of Europe, the Middle East and China. Warm temperatures have also prevailed in Brasil and Chile associated with the dry regions there. Northeastern North America has experienced above average temperatures associated with very dry conditions. The only major land area experiencing below average temperatures in June was Russia, east of the Ural Mountians. The relatively cool west coast of North America is influenced by colder than normal temperatures in the Pacific.

Forecasts - Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation
Impacts - On Fisheries, Agriculture, Health and Hazards.

Material for the IRI Climate Information Digest has been extracted from the IRI Climate Data Library, the IRI Experimental Forecast Division, the NOAA NCEP Climate Prediction Center, the Climate Diagnostic Center, and the NOAA ERL Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratories. Additional information has been obtained from the Bureau of Meteorology, Australia, and INPE, Brazil.