5 sources·Science

Weak La Nina Emerges After Delays, Expected to Influence US Winter Weather

The long-anticipated La Nina has arrived, though its effects are expected to be milder and short-lived compared to previous occurrences.

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  1. La Niña has officially started: What happens next?

    La Niña is expected to be a short-duration event that will lead to warmer and drier winters for southern areas, which may cause some confusion as much of the South is currently dealing with winter weather.

    La Niña has officially started: What happens next?

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  3. NOAA says La Nina ocean cooling has finally arrived, but it's weak and may cause fewer problems

    But even as the temperature signature was late to arrive and small at that, L’Heureux said some of the effects across the globe have shown up and forecasters have made seasonal predictions based on La Nina conditions.

    NOAA says La Nina ocean cooling has finally arrived, but it's weak and may cause fewer problems

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  4. La Niña has arrived. Here’s what that means for the US

    Not only is La Niña much weaker than last year’s potent El Niño, it’s also arriving really late to the party.

    La Niña has arrived. Here’s what that means for the US

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  5. NOAA: La Nina Ocean Cooling Finally Arrived, but Weak, May Cause Fewer Problems

    La Nina has finally appeared, but the periodic cooling of Pacific Ocean waters is weak and unlikely to cause as many weather problems as usual.

    NOAA: La Nina Ocean Cooling Finally Arrived, but Weak, May Cause Fewer Problems

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  1. The Hill
  2. USA TODAY
  3. Associated Press
  4. CNN
  5. Newsmax
Updated: Jan 9th, 2025, 3:27 PM ET

Summary

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

Meteorologists have confirmed the emergence of a weak La Nina after months of anticipation. This climate pattern, characterized by cooler Pacific waters, influences global weather, especially in the US where it typically results in drier winter conditions in the South. However, this year's La Nina is expected to be short-lived, lasting until April, leading to uncertainty in its weather impact. The delayed formation may have been influenced by persistently warmer global ocean temperatures, prompting further research into climate trends.

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