We examined monthly time-series (1950 to 1999) of sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in 47 quadrants (2¿¿2¿) along the coast of North America and their relation to the El Ni¿o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). We used the Multivariate ENSO Index (MEI) and the PDO Index (PDOI) and assumed a linear interaction of the mechanisms behind their interannual variations. Then, we examined SST anomalies as functions of MEI and PDOI using multiple linear regression (MLR). On average, ENSO influence decreases poleward but is still dominant at 31 ¿N. Northward, the PDO signal dominates. MLR was also applied to selected sea level height (SLH) series. ENSO effects on SLH were clear up to 48 ¿N, while PDO showed a weak effect only in the Gulf of Alaska. This suggests that, poleward of Southern California, ENSO effects may be largely restricted to the inshore coastal environment. ¿ 2001 American Geophysical Union