During the period from August through 15 October, anomalously warm conditions persisted in most of mid and high latitude regions of the Asian and American sectors of the northern hemisphere; exceptions are Mexico through September, central USA up to September, and eastern USA in October. Africa in general experienced warmer than normal conditions, while Europe was in general anomalously warm except in August. In Australia, anomalous temperature signals changed from cold in August to warm since September. The equatorial Americas also experienced anomalously warm temperatures. Moderately drier than normal conditions were seen in many parts of East Asia including Mongolia, the Middle East where severe dry conditions have been persisting, along with other parts of west Asia, and adjoining Africa; in Africa, southern parts also experienced dry conditions. Several parts of north and central North America experienced warm and/or dry signals. Dry conditions have also prevailed in southern Australia since late August. On the other hand, anomalously wet conditions were seen in northern tropical Africa and the western tropical Pacific. Near normal surface temperature conditions were seen in the tropical Pacific.

The APCC forecast for November 2008-January 2009 indicates near neutral conditions in the tropical Pacific. Surplus rainfall is forecast over most of the Maritime continent and equatorial Americas. Anomalous warm and wet conditions are predicted in a horseshoe shape covering the North Pacific, the Philippines, the Maritime continent, and Polynesian islands east of northern Australia. In general, normal signals are predicted for Australia.

Most of southern Asia, and eastern Asia including the north-east Russian region, may see an anomalously warm transit from fall to winter, and this condition is expected to continue through January 2009. There is an increased possibility that some regions in the northwest Pacific may witness more than normal rainfall. However, across the Pacific conditions are likely to vary, with our predictions indicating drier than normal conditions in many portions of North America such as the northwest, the west coast as well as the south-central region including the border regions of USA and Mexico; this last zone may also experience an anomalously warm period, in contrast to the cold conditions predicted for the northernmost regions.

Equatorial central Americas, including Venezuela, may receive slightly above normal rainfall, while tropical Brazil is likely to experience warmer than normal temperatures. On the other hand, tropical and subtropical western regions of South America, including parts of Peru, Chile, along with some regions in its southern trip, may experience slightly less than normal rainfall.

Tropical southern portions of Africa may see anomalously warm and dry conditions. The severe rainfall deficit conditions in the Middle East may continue, along with less than normal rainfall signals that are also predicted for Pakistan. Northwestern parts of Europe may see a warmer than normal transition into winter.