During February to April 2024, the Pacific Niño sea-surface temperature (SST) index, particularly in the eastern Pacific (Niño 1+2), returned to near-normal levels. However, the other indices in the central Pacific showed above-normal temperatures, though with a decrease in intensity compared to previous months. This period witnessed a gradual weakening of El Niño conditions in the equatorial Pacific. Meanwhile, the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) remained above-normal, influencing regional climate patterns.
Looking ahead to June-August 2024, forecasts indicate a decline in above-normal sea-surface temperature anomalies in the Niño 3.4 and Niño 3 regions, potentially cooling towards weak La Niña conditions by late 2024. In the Niño 4 region farther west, sea-surface temperatures are expected to approach normal levels. Additionally, the strength of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) index is predicted to return to near-normal conditions.
In the equatorial Atlantic, SSTs are anticipated to remain above-normal in both the North Tropical Atlantic (NTA) and South Tropical Atlantic (STA) regions throughout the upcoming season. These forecasts provide insights into the evolving global oceanic conditions and their potential impacts on regional and global weather patterns in the coming months.
