NOAA: State of the Climate in 2015

NOAA: State of the Climate in 2015

The year 2015 is now officially the warmest year since the mid-to-late 19th century, according to a newly released annual State of the Climate report, compiled by NOAA’s Center for Weather and Climate. The record-breaking heat is likely the result of a…

WMO’s ENSO Update: Weak La Niña may develop

WMO’s ENSO Update: Weak La Niña may develop

A La Niña event may develop in the third quarter of this year, but it is likely to be weak, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported in its ENSO Update published July 28, 2016. The event is not expected to match up to the moderate to strong La…

2015-16 El Niño ends, tropical Pacific Ocean returns to neutral

2015-16 El Niño ends, tropical Pacific Ocean returns to neutral

The tropical Pacific Ocean has returned to a neutral El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) state, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology reports in their May 24 ENSO Wrap-Up. Equatorial sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the eastern Pacific have cooled in…

The 2015–16 El Niño in its last stages, BOM at La Niña Watch

The 2015–16 El Niño in its last stages, BOM at La Niña Watch

The 2015–16 El Niño is in its last stages, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) reports. Recent changes in the tropical Pacific Ocean and atmosphere, combined with current climate model outlooks, suggest the likelihood of La Niña forming…

Palau could completely dry up this month, officials warn

Palau could completely dry up this month, officials warn

Palau officials have warned today the country could completely dry up this month. The Pacific country, with about 18 000 people, declared the state of emergency last month due to one of the worst droughts in its history and is now asking for urgent aid. President…

The 2015/16 El Niño continues its steady decline

The 2015/16 El Niño continues its steady decline

The 2015–16 El Niño continues its slow and steady decline, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) reports in their latest ENSO Wrap-Up. The tropical Pacific Ocean has cooled further over the past fortnight, and trade winds are near normal….