Madden Julian Oscillation Cause California Heat Wave

The convective phase of the Madden Julian oscillation stretched across the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean and into the western Atlantic tropics (phase_8/phase_1) the past 7-10 days with moderate-to-strong intensity. The result is widespread tropical convection spawning many tropical events (4 in both the East Pacific and North Atlantic tropics including Elida, Fausto, Genevieve and Isaias plus several potent tropical disturbances). The latent heat release poleward of the tropical convection and the attendant tropical systems into the middle atmosphere of the middle latitudes amplified a high pressure ridge in the Western U.S. causing the California heat wave. Enhancing the strength of the high pressure area was a feedback to the upper atmosphere by a widespread Western U.S. drought.