[La Niña has finally emerged, but it’s a weak and late arrival that may not last long. Despite this, its influence on winter weather is already being felt. La Niña is characterized by cooler than average water temperatures in the equatorial Pacific and changes in upper atmosphere patterns, which affect weather globally.
The phenomenon was marked by a late start, with the atmosphere showing La Niña-like patterns in the fall, but the ocean taking longer to catch up. As a result, La Niña is already weakening and may not have a lasting impact. However, its effects on US winter weather are already apparent.
California is experiencing its typical La Niña weather patterns, with Northern California receiving heavy rain and Southern California being dry and tinder-dry. The Midwest is also seeing a lot of rain, with cities like St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati having one of the wettest starts to winter.
However, there are exceptions, with the South and parts of the central US experiencing cold Arctic air and winter storms. The weak La Niña is forecast to stick around through April, with neutral conditions expected to follow.
Despite its late arrival, La Niña is still expected to influence the rest of the winter and early spring. However, its strength means that other factors could also play a role, making it difficult to predict exactly how the season will unfold. The California Farmer’s Almanac and the Climate Prediction Center are forecasting warmer temperatures in the south and East, cooler conditions in the Northwest, and wetter conditions in the Northwest and Midwest.
The long-range forecast suggests that the US will experience a mix of weather patterns, with warmer and wetter conditions in some areas, and drier conditions in others. The exact timing and extent of these patterns remain uncertain, but La Niña’s influence is already being felt.
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