Bob Blog 22 Nov

Bob McDavitt’s ideas for sailing around the South Pacific.

Disclaimer: Weather is a mix of pattern and chaos; these ideas are from the patterned world.

Compiled Sun 22 Nov 2020

 

LA NINA strengthens

La Nina is caused by cooler than normal seas along the equatorial eastern Pacific. It shifts the subtropical ridge away from the equator and strengthens the trade winds.

The Atmosphere:

The parameter we watch from the atmosphere is the Southern Oscillation Index SOI (30 day running mean) which is basically the (normalised) air pressure difference Tahiti-Darwin.  This entered La Nina territory last month and has relaxed a little in past few weeks.

 

The Ocean:

The parameter we use here is the average sea surface temperatures in the equatorial eastern Pacific zone NINO 3.4. This index has been steadily dropping for weeks and entered La Nina territory late November. The atmosphere and ocean have “coupled” in their behaviour, or are doing the same thing.

 

Sea temperature anomaly: Wwarmer than normal seas between New Caledonia and New Zealand are likely to enhance low pressure systems in the Tasma sea and increase the risk of tropical cyclone formation over next few months.

 

According to the International Research Institute of the Climate Prediction Centre, this La NINA should peak early in 2021 and has a 65% chance of lasting until May 2021.

 

The Tropics

TC IOTA brought more deluging rain to Central America in the past week.

Things seem to be quietening now, with a tropical depression about to make landfall onto the horn of Africa., and some potential areas for formation around Indonesia.

 

WEATHER ZONES

SPCZ=South Pacific Convergence zone.

SPCZ is in its normal position from Solomon Islands to Northern Vanuatu to between Fiji and Samoa..

A trough is expected to form over Samoa early in the week and travel over Niue/Southern Cooks around mid-week.

 

Subtropical ridge (STR)

HIGH/ridge is expected to travel east across the North island on Monday and then go east along 30 to 40South.

Next High is expected to arrive in Tasman Sea on Wednesday and linger there until the weekend, drifting northwards.

 

NZ/Tasman troughs

LOW 990hPa is expected to move from Tasman Sea onto North Island on Tuesday and off to the east on Wednesday followed by southerly flow.

Low below 960hpa is expected to travel east near 60South on Wed/Thu/Friday bringing vigorous west to SW wind flow to South Island.

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