While browsing for some updated info on the current worldwide state of climactic conditions, I stumbled on the following information, which I thought might be useful:

"The equatorial Pacific remains in a neutral state. Equatorial SST anomalies are near zero, and have changed little from March. The monthly SOI was strongly negative, largely as a result of Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) activity in early April. The three month SOI (February-April) continues in the neutral range. For April and for February to April, the NINO3 SST anomaly was about +0.2°C, and NINO4 was about +0.4°C. Subsurface temperatures show negative anomalies near the surface in the eastern Equatorial Pacific, with positive anomalies in the farther west, both of which appear to be propagating east. Most of the global models indicate that neutral conditions are the most likely outcome for the rest of the year, though the chance of an El Niño developing is slightly higher than average."

First mention I'd heard of a possible El Nino this year. What does it mean? HF, Steve, Ed, sc, anyone want to take a stab?