19 OCT 96 -- NOTES:

RED SEA bleaching has been observed:
SSTs began to exceed 32C threshold for bleaching in southern Red
Sea in late-August [when SSTs are normally 31C].  This condition
has continued into October with only a decrease in SST of a few
tenths of a degree.

SSTs have moderated slightly off Belize, from what had been above
normal most of the summer, to be close to normal...this is the
maximum SST period there.

Cooler SSTs are moving in from the south closer toward Johnston
Island and Hawaii...although both these areas are seeing elevated
SSTs for this time of the year.

Drastically below normal SSTs [as much as -3 to -4 deg C] are seen
along the Atlantic seaboard of the US...much due to hurricane/fall
NE-ter activity.

AES