Climate Model Summary

Climate Model Summary Archive: September 2014

El Niño remains on hold

Despite significant warming in the tropical Pacific Ocean in the first half of 2014, the ocean and atmosphere largely failed to reinforce each other during the winter months. Subsequently, the chance of an El Niño developing in 2014 has been reduced, however a late forming El Niño still cannot be ruled out. Six out of eight international climate models indicate temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean will be close to or exceed El Niño thresholds by December. There is a reduction in the number of models forecasting El Niño thresholds to be exceeded by the end of 2014.

El Niño is often, but not always, associated with below-average rainfall during the second half of the year across large parts of southern and inland eastern Australia. Daytime temperatures also tend to be above average over southern Australia.

The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) has returned to the neutral range over the previous month after being negative since mid-June. Model outlooks suggest the IOD will remain in the neutral range for the remainder of 2014 and nto the first quarter of 2015.

NINO3.4 outlook

The latest NINO3.4 forecasts (initialised in September) indicate the tropical Pacific Ocean is likely to be warmer than average, but may remain in the neutral range for the remainder of 2014. Most models have a reduced sea surface temperature forecast from last month. Three of the eight models are indicating El Niño thresholds are likely to be reached by December, with a further three models are forecasting temperatures close to El Niño thresholds.

The most recent NINO3.4 value is +0.5 °C for the week ending 14 September 2014. Sustained NINO3.4 values above +0.8 °C indicate El Niño conditions.

Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) outlook

The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) has returned to neutral values over the last month, having been below −0.4 °C (the negative IOD threshold) since mid-June. As negative IOD values persisted for three months, 2014 is considered a negative IOD year. The latest weekly index value (to 14 September 2014) is –0.3 °C, with model outlooks indicating that the tropical Indian Ocean will remain in the neutral range for the remainder of 2014. A negative IOD pattern typically brings wetter conditions to inland and southern Australia during winter and spring.

The following graph shows the average forecast value of the IOD index for each international model surveyed for the selected calendar month. If the majority of models are approaching or exceeding the blue dashed line, then there is an increased risk of a negative IOD event. If the majority of models are approaching or exceeding the red dashed line, then there is an increased risk of a positive IOD event.

Predictive Ocean Atmosphere Model for Australia (POAMA)

POAMA, run at the Bureau of Meteorology, generates an eight-monthly forecast on the first day of each month. The most recent model run (started in August) predicts NINO3.4 is likely to remain well within neutral bounds throughout the forecast period. The following forecast values (at the top of the table) are for the ensemble mean.

POAMA archive data is available here.

ENSO Dials

The arrows on the dials below indicate the combined average ofmonthly NINO3.4 outlooks from a survey of international global climate models. Note that the individual model runs vary around the average.

NINO3.4 outlook bar-graphs

The following graphs shows the average forecast value of NINO3.4 for each international model surveyed for the selected calendar month. If the bars on the graph are approaching or exceeding the blue dashed line, there is an increased risk of La Niña. Similarly, if the bars on the graph are approaching or exceeding the red dashed line, there is an increased chance of El Niño.

IOD outlook bar-graphs

Past climate model summaries

October 2015 El Niño to peak towards end of 2015; rapid decay likely in first quarter of 2016
September 2015 El Niño set to persist at strongest values since 1997-98
August 2015 Models maintain El Niño into 2016
July 2015 El Niño likely to strengthen and persist through 2015
June 2015 El Niño likely to strengthen during spring.
May 2015 Models indicate tropical Pacific to remain well above El Niño thresholds.
April 2015 Models maintain outlooks for El Niño through winter and spring.
March 2015 Model consensus indicates El Niño by winter 2015.
February 2015 ENSO neutral, though tropical Pacific Ocean likely to remain warm.
January 2015 Models suggesting neutral for now, but remaining warm.
December 2014 Tropical Pacific Ocean likely to remain near El Niño thresholds over summer.
November 2014 Models near El Niño thresholds.
October 2014 Models ease outlooks for El Niño in summer.
September 2014 El Niño remains on hold.
August 2014 Models ease their El Niño outlook for spring.
July 2014 Majority of models still favour spring El Niño.
June 2014 El Niño remains likely for 2014.
May 2014 El Niño remains likely for 2014.
April 2014 Models suggest El Niño likely by mid-winter.
March 2014 An increased chance of El Niño from winter.
February 2014 Models indicate tropical Pacific to warm.
January 2014 Models suggest tropical Pacific likely to warm over coming months.
December 2013 Neutral ENSO through summer.
November 2013 Neutral ENSO through summer.
October 2013 Neutral ENSO for austral summer.
September 2013 ENSO and IOD neutral.
August 2013 ENSO neutral; negative IOD weakening.
July 2013 ENSO remains neutral; negative IOD likely
June 2013 Negative IOD, but ENSO remains neutral.
May 2013 Neutral ENSO, possible negative IOD development.
April 2013 Neutral ENSO conditions expected to persist.
March 2013 ENSO neutral set to continue.
February 2013 Models predict neutral conditions to continue.
19 September 2012 Pacific remains close to El Niño thresholds.
5 September 2012 Borderline El Niño conditions continue.
22 August 2012 El Niño remains likely for 2012.
8 August 2012 Models predict weak El Niño in 2012.
25 July 2012 El Niño remains likely in 2012.
11 July 2012 Models suggest increased risk of El Niño in 2012.
27 June 2012 Models suggest further warming through winter.
13 June 2012 Models suggest further warming through winter.
30 May 2012 Neutral in tropical Pacific, but further warming likely.
16 May 2012 Warming in tropical Pacific set to continue.
2 May 2012 Neutral conditions, but warming in tropical Pacific continues.
18 April 2012 Continued warming in tropical Pacific Ocean.
4 April 2012 La Niña ends; conditions neutral.
26 October 2011 La Niña re-established in the Pacific.
27 April 2011 Models predict neutral conditions by southern hemisphere winter.
30 March 2011 Models predict continued weakening of La Niña conditions.
2 March 2011 Models predict continued weakening of La Niña conditions.
2 February 2011 Models predict La Niña will persist into the southern hemisphere autumn.
18 January 2011 Models predict La Niña event will persist through southern hemisphere summer.
8 November 2010 Models predict La Niña event will persist into first quarter of 2011.
27 October 2010 Models predict La Niña event will persist into at least early 2011.
13 October 2010 Models predict La Niña event likely to continue until at least early 2011.
29 September 2010 Models predict La Niña event to continue through 2010.
15 September 2010 Models predict La Niña conditions to continue: La Niña intensifies in the Pacific.
1 September 2010 Models predict conditions to remain above La Niña thresholds: La Niña strengthens in the Pacific.
18 August 2010 Models predict continued cooling in the tropical Pacific: La Niña conditions persist in the Pacific.
31 May 2010 Models predict neutral conditions to persist over coming months, with the possibility of cool conditions later in the year.
April 2010 Models predict neutral conditions to persist over coming months, with the possibility of cool conditions later in the year.
March 2010 Models predict neutral conditions to return to the Pacific by June 2010.
November 2009 Models predict that El Niño conditions will persist through summer 2009/10.