Cloud patterns across the tropical Pacific Ocean in September 2026 compared to the long-term average (1991-2020). Brown areas, such as over Indonesia and the far western Pacific, mean clearer skies than average. The blue colors dominating the central and eastern Pacific mean cloudier skies than average. This pattern—dry to the west, wet to the east—is a classic sign of El Niño. Climate.us image, based on UMD outgoing long wave radiation data.