Global Setting – May 2011
8 June 2011
Conditions in the tropical Pacific are now in the neutral range and are likely to stay neutral over the winter. Mean sea level pressures are likely to be above normal to the south and east of the country, and below normal north of New Zealand, with weaker westerlies and more frequent than normal easterly flow over the country.
Sea surface temperatures
Sea surface temperatures near New Zealand are expected to be near normal or above normal through June to August.
Differences from average global sea surface temperatures for 8th May to 4th of June 2011. Map courtesy of NOAA Climate Diagnostics Centre (http://www.cdc.noaa.gov/map/images/sst/sst.anom.month.gif).
Monthly values of the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), a measure of changes in atmospheric pressures across the Pacific, and the 3-month mean (black line). SOI mean values: May SOI +0.2; March to May average +1.8
Differences from normal May surface temperatures in the seas around New Zealand.