The Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) and convectively coupled equatorial waves have frequently been identified with proxies for convection such as outgoing longwave radiation. These data are suitable for the Eastern Hemisphere where deep tropical convection is commonplace. However, the convection becomes weaker in the Western Hemisphere, even as the wave signals persist in the upper troposphere. Inter-satellite calibration techniques have recently produced a homogeneous 32-year dataset of upper tropospheric water vapor (UTWV). These data will be used to revisit the climatologies of the MJO and equatorial waves with a focus on the Western Hemisphere. The utility of UTWV for operational monitoring of these systems will also be explored.