La Nina, El Niño

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La Nina, which worsens hurricanes and drought, is gone

WASHINGTON (AP) — After three nasty years, the La Nina weather phenomenon that increases Atlantic hurricane activity and worsens western drought is gone, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Thursday.

https://apnews.com/article/la-nina-severe-weather-noaa-hurricanes-3a3be03c7d445f3fb4c4ec240589346b?

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Q&A: La Nina may bring more Atlantic storms, western drought

La Nina — which often means a busier Atlantic hurricane season, a drier Southwest and perhaps a more fire-prone California — has popped up in the Pacific Ocean.

https://apnews.com/article/climate-el-nino-storms-droughts-fires-8e547d1f6c20e5f529b6d80d4ec84462?

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What are El Niño and La Niña?

El Niño and La Niña are climate patterns in the Pacific Ocean that can affect weather worldwide.

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/ninonina.html

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El Niño planet-warming weather phase has begun

A natural weather event known as El Niño has begun in the Pacific Ocean, likely adding heat to a planet already warming under climate change.

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-65839060?

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How El Niño hurts coral reefs

Data: NOAA and GCRMN. Chart: Tory Lysik and Erin Davis/Axios Visuals Our weekly column from Axios Visuals: The next El Niño will supercharge ocean temperatures, spelling trouble for coral reefs, a major component of the ocean's ecosystems, Axios visual journalists Tory Lysik and Erin Davis report. Why it matters: Coral reefs provide shelter for over 25% of ocean animals, and are economically key to over half a billion people's livelihoods. Share this visual.

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La Niña

A weak La Niña is expected to develop ahead of winter and affect temperatures, precipitation and snow across the US. La Niña is a natural climate pattern that influences global weather marked by cooler-than-average ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific. If this year's La Niña ends up rather weak, winter is expected to be warmer than normal across almost the entire southern half of the US and much of the East. This could mean some winter storms in parts of the East end up wetter, rather than snowier. It's a complete flip from winter 2023, which favored a wetter South and a drier North. Last winter's pattern was the warmest on record for the Lower 48 because it was dominated by La Niña’s counterpart El Niño in a world also warming due to fossil fuel pollution.

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What an upcoming La Nina event could mean for winter weather The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center says there is a 60% chance that a weak La Nina event will develop this autumn and could last until March. Read more.

Why this matters: La Nina is part of a natural climate cycle that can cause extreme weather across the planet, and its effects vary from place to place. The trade winds intensify and cold water from the depths of the sea rises up, resulting in cooler than average ocean temperatures in the eastern Pacific.   Although there is no guarantee how this La Nina will play out, there are some general trends. Experts say northern parts of South America could see more rain than usual. Southern regions of the U.S. and parts of Mexico could be drier than average. The northern tier of the U.S. and southern Canada could be wetter than average.

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