A persistent marine heatwave in the mid-latitude West Pacific has elevated high pressure aloft risk for much of the past several years. A strong marine heatwave in the Northeast Pacific in 2014-16 having tendency to re-emerge in that area last decade shifted westward toward the China Coast and eastward to the Dateline in this decade. The marine heat wave is vividly evident east of China and Japan now and aloft is well-correlated to strong high-pressure ridging extending across the mid-latitude West Pacific to Mongolia during the past 45 days.

The latest forecast remains steady with 21 tropical storms, 11 hurricanes, and 5 major hurricanes expected. The Climate Impact Company hurricane tracks forecast indicates 7 of the 11 hurricanes will strike the U.S. Several of these coastal strikes could be major hurricanes.

During the past 30 days, a semi-permanent marine heat wave located northeast of Hawaii has strengthened sharply and is edging eastward. An eastward shift to the North America West Coast would promote widespread anomalous heat and dryness causing drought. This type of eastern surge is not likely during La Nina. However, close monitoring warranted into early summer 2024!

Severe thunderstorms bring heavy rain in Texas today where widespread flooding is likely later today and tonight. The maximum risk is across central and north-central Texas. Redeveloping heavy rain and flood risk occurs in Texas and the southwest/south Great Plains on Wednesday. The THU/FRI flood risk is impressive and likely to increase from Kansas to Texas and eastward to Arkansas.

Nearly two dozen people have been killed due to severe weather this weekend from Arkansas and Oklahoma to Kentucky. Yesterday, the most severe weather reports of any day in 2024 so far were recorded. Most of the 1,136 reports were damaging wind gusts although 16 tornado reports are included.

The subsurface equatorial ocean regions upper ocean heat analysis according to ECMWF from April 2024 foreshadow major climate pattern changes ahead if current analysis and trend hold for JUN/JUL/AUG 2024.

The (Long Paddock) daily southern oscillation index (SOI) can tell us something about the atmospheric reaction to what’s going on within the ENSO System. El Nino ended recently, and neutral ENSO is in-place. We’re awaiting a transition to La Nina during the second half of the year although confidence in timing is LOW.