Highlights - March 2017
temperatures (SSTs) during March 2017 remained near-average over the central equatorial Pacific and
above-average in the eastern equatorial Pacific (Fig. T18, Table T2).
The latest monthly
Niņo indices were -0.1°C for the Niņo 4
for the Niņo 3.4 region, and +2.0°C for the Niņo 1+2 region (Table
T2, Fig. T5). The depth of the oceanic thermocline
(measured by the depth of the 20°C isotherm) was slightly above-average over
the far eastern equatorial Pacific (Figs. T15, T16), and
the corresponding sub-surface temperatures were 1-2°C above average (Fig. T17).
Also during March, the lower-level
winds were enhanced over the western and central equatorial Pacific (Table T1, Fig. T20). Meanwhile, convection was suppressed over the
central equatorial Pacific and enhanced over Indonesia (Figs. T25, E3). Collectively, these oceanic and
atmospheric anomalies are consistent with ENSO-neutral conditions.
For the latest status of the ENSO
cycle see the ENSO Diagnostic Discussion at: