La Niña Ending

For almost a year, La Niña has been in action in the central Pacific Ocean. La Niña is the cooling of ocean surface temperatures in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific Ocean that influences U.S. weather patterns. It developed July through September 2007 and became strong throughout the winter months, from December 2007 through February 2008. Throughout the winter, La Niña was associated with very heavy precipitation in the Ohio Valley and in the northern Rockies, and drier-than-average conditions over parts of the southern Plains and the Southeast.

Now, scientists believe La Niña could soon be coming to an end. According to research La Niña weakened in April and they predict that will continue and it will transition to a neutral phase during June or July. Typically, La Niña does not have strong impacts for the US within the spring and early summer, however, La Niña can influence the hurricane season in late summer and fall.

Story courtesy of NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center