Our latest calculation of the sea surface temperature in the equatorial eastern pacific stands at 0.9 degree below normal for the month of June. This is down substantially from our reading of 0.1 degree above normal during the month of May.

All indications at this time continue to suggest developing La Nina conditions in the coming months.

We see no signs at this time of the developing La Nina having any impact on changing the weather pattern in the Midwest which remains wet in most areas. In fact the only relation with rainfall and La Nina in the US based on some of the initial studies on El Nino and La Nina done back in the late 1980s calls for rainfall to average below normal over the gulf coast states from October (2010) in the year in which the La Nina begins to April (2011) of the following year.

It is also generally accepted that La Ninas bring increased tropical activity to the atlantic basin. Recent hurricane Alex was reported to be the strongest atlantic Basin storm for June in over 50 years.

Mike