2026 Indicators: SST's, MSLP, Shear, SAL, Steering, Instability (Day 16+ Climate Models)

[StPeteMike]

Pardon the lack of knowledge, what makes this El Niño different from the El Niño we saw in 2023? If waters are already experiencing rapid warming and we see that spread out from the Gulf to the Caribbean and MDR, would we not have a similar setup to the 20 tropical storms we saw during 2023?

Besides an active development, the good thing is the lack of CONUS landfalls (minus Idalia).

[mixedDanilo.E]

The Gulf waters are warming and Josh takes notice.

 https://x.com/iCyclone/status/2031567639579959475

I wouldn't be surprised if we have early season close to home development that even impacts the US. I noticed that a lot of early seasons in El Nino years especially, tend to have these quick spinups that happen in the northern gulf and along the gulf stream off the SE Coast, like Ana & Bill in 2015, Alberto and Chris in 2018, Arlene in 2023 and even Arthur in 2014.

[USTropics]

Pardon the lack of knowledge, what makes this El Niño different from the El Niño we saw in 2023? If waters are already experiencing rapid warming and we see that spread out from the Gulf to the Caribbean and MDO, would we not have a similar setup to the 20 tropical storms we saw during 2023?

Besides an active development, the good thing is the lack of CONUS landfalls (minus Idalia).

If we're just looking at the current surface analysis and comparing to 2023, you could already see at this time in 2023 that the SSTA configuration would potentially allow for competing vertical ascent between the EPAC and NATL. Let's compare March 10th of both years (2023 and currently). Starting with 2023:


Some things that jump out to me (1) clear MDR SSTA+ configuration, (2) Canary current has a clear warm signal, and (3) ENSO in the eastern Pacific is still a bit muted.

Now current SSTA configuration for 2026

We have (1) MDR SSTA- configuration, (2) subtropics has the +SSTA, and (3) starting to see a stronger El Nino signal in the eastern Pacific.

Yes, both years had a strong +SSTA signal in the GOM, but there is no correlation there as a preseason indicator. That basin is extremely variable to intraseasonal changes. Personally, if we have a +SSTA signal in the eastern Pacific and a +SSTA signal in the subtropical NATL, subsidence dump is going to be concentrated in the MDR. There will be windows for development of course, but it's going to take additional forcing mechanisms (e.g., MJO and CCKW).

I will caveat that I am focusing particularly on the MDR here. This is where we typically see systems generate the most ACE and the ability to at least have some sort of forecast skill at this lead time exists. We can always have 'homegrown' systems in the GOM or in the subtropics, but the ability and forecast skill for that in March is essentially 0.

[weeniepatrol]

Pardon the lack of knowledge, what makes this El Niño different from the El Niño we saw in 2023? If waters are already experiencing rapid warming and we see that spread out from the Gulf to the Caribbean and MDR, would we not have a similar setup to the 20 tropical storms we saw during 2023?

Besides an active development, the good thing is the lack of CONUS landfalls (minus Idalia).

The Atlantic is much cooler this year and there’s no signs of an African standing wave like in 2023