La Niña Is Forecasted to Affect Winter Weather—Here’s What to Expect

This winter might look a little different across the U.S. thanks to La Niña. The National Weather Service predicts that La Niña has a 60% chance of emerging in September to November and is expected to persist through January to March of next year. It’s forecasted to be a weaker climate pattern, which the National Weather Service says is “less likely to result in conventional winter impacts.”

So what does that mean for our winter in the West? Well, first it helps to learn the difference between El Niño and La Niña. According to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) , during El Niño, trade wind weakens, warm water is pushed back east toward the west coast of the America. Typically, areas in the northern U.S. and Canada are drier and warmer than usual, but the U.S. Gulf Coast and Southeast should expect to be wetter and have increased flooding.

“During La Niña events, trade winds are even stronger than usual, pushing more warm water toward Asia,” states the NOAA. “Off the west coast of the Americas, upwelling increases, bringing cold, nutrient-rich water to the surface.” That means we can expect drought conditions in the Southern U.S. and rains in flooding in the Pacific Northwest and Canada.

In short, for the West, we can expect a wetter winter in the Pacific Northwest. CNN says that while Northern California is typically wetter during La Niña, the forecast is normal this season. And Southern California is expect to be drier and warmer than average, much like parts of the Southwest.

It’s important to note that La Niña isn’t the only thing that influences weather conditions. But while we can’t fully predict what this winter will be like, knowing that there’s a weaker La Niña coming may help give us an idea of what to expect.

“A weaker event makes it more likely that other weather and climate phenomena could play the role of spoiler,” Emily Becker wrote in NOAA’s ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation) blog . “However, even a weak La Niña can factor into seasonal outlooks, because it can still nudge the global atmosphere.”

Guess only time will tell what this winter will be like!