"Excerpts from the NOAA/NESDIS El Nino Watch Advisory 98-2 for February 1998: Coastal sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies remained strongly positive along the U.S. west coast in February. Most coastal waters off western U.S. were 4 degrees F above normal, with a small area off northern Baja California Mexico that was 5 degrees F above normal. The predominately warm southerly winds associated with February storms resulted in anomalously strong downwelling in coastal waters from central California north to Canada. Observers on research cruises off California in February noted very low zooplankton abundance and a lack of upwelling. Warm water conditions off southern California have resulted in the continued presence of yellowtail, Seriola lalandi. Fishing for this species usually does not begin until April or May, yet anglers have already landed 10,000 since the beginning of January. Early spawning of anchovy and sardine was noted throughout the southern California Bight in February."--SUSAN SMITH <Susan.smith@noaa.gov.