Anomalous SSTs near California

From: Matthew F. Talbot (mftalbot_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 08/26/04 

Date: 25 Aug 2004 20:08:47 -0700

Looking at the SST link from the Tropical Prediction Center page, I've
noticed a large area of higher-than-normal SSTs off the west coast of
the US during this summer. The current page at
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsst.shtml? shows anomalies of up to 3
degrees C.

It seems to me that this could portend a pretty active and stormy
rainy season for California, since more moisture will be available to
storms due to increased evaporation, plus the warmer SST will tend to
destabilize the air above them due to the temperature differential.

Thoughts?