A La Niña event may develop in the third quarter of this year, but it is likely to be weak. It is not expected to match up to the moderate to strong La Niña of 2010-2011 and will not compare to the intensity of the El Niño event which just ended and which was one of the strongest on record, according to a new Update from the #worldmeteorologicalorganization.
El Niño and La Niña are opposite phases of atmosphere-ocean interplay over the tropical Pacific, collectively referred to as the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). They have opposite effects on weather and climate in different parts of the world. Areas which receive below average rainfall during an El Niño tend to receive above average rainfall during a La Niña and vice versa.
The strong 2015-16 El Niño ended in May 2016. Since then, ENSO indicators have remained at neutral levels. There is a 50-65% probability that La Niña will develop in the third quarter of 2016, lasting through the remainder of 2016. Historically, La Niña has followed several – but not all – El Niño events.
There is virtually no chance of El Niño re-development in 2016, according to the WMO ENSO Update, which is based on expert opinion and models from all around the world.
The 2015-2016 El Niño was one of the strongest on record and, with its warming effect, contributed a prolonged spell of record global temperatures.
The first six months of 2016 were the hottest such period on record, shattering the 2015 records by considerable margins.
It is important to note that El Niño and La Niña are not the only factors that drive global climate patterns. For example, the sea surface temperatures of the Indian Ocean, the southeastern Pacific Ocean and the Tropical Atlantic Ocean are also known to influence the climate in the adjacent land areas.
Regionally and locally applicable information is available via regional and national seasonal climate outlooks, such as those produced by WMO Regional Climate Centres (RCCs), Regional Climate Outlook Forums (RCOFs) and National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs).
lulop.com
