Late summer 2023-24 drought in South America is worsening. Most recently, Argentina has received very little rain while anomalous heat has accelerated drying of soils. This effect has also affected Southern and Northwestern Brazil.

Severe dryness and anomalous heat have shifted over Argentina the past 7-10 days. The 7-day percent of normal rainfall observations across South America reveal little or no rain across much of Argentina and Chile. The Argentina dryness is accompanied by anomalous heat accelerating the drying of soil moisture conditions.

During January 2024, upper ocean heat across the equatorial Pacific Ocean plummeted. The Pacific basin upper ocean heat anomaly has slipped below the El Nino threshold.

Late last week, there were reports of record-fast speed of jet airliners crossing the Pacific Ocean propelled by an unusually intense jet stream. Typical air speed of jet airliners flying at 37,000 to 41,000 feet is in the 550-600 mph range. Late last week, reports of air speeds near 825 mph were reported enabling trans-Pacific flights to arrive 90 minutes earlier than scheduled.