MADISON, Wis. – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forecasting La Niña to develop through the rest of October into November in the eastern Pacific and last through spring of 2025. But what does that mean for Wiconsinites this upcoming winter?
Published late last week , the Climate Prediction Center predicts La Niña conditions to keep developing across parts the eastern Pacific Ocean and continue through March of 2025. At a 60% chance, the Climate Prediction Center is expecting this latest La Niña to be on the weaker side.
La Niña events are characterized when stronger trade winds push warmer water towards Asia which causes upwelling to occur along the west coast of the Americas. Upwelling occurs when cooler, more nutrient rich water replaces warmer waters at the surface of a body of water.
This process can cause the jet stream further north which can lead to a wetter than average Pacific Northwest, a drier and warmer than average Gulf Coast, Desert Southwest and Deep South and a cooler than average Northern Plains. But like thunderstorms, no two La Niña events are the same.