Weakened La Niña Arrives, Influencing U.S. Winter Weather Patterns

The climate phenomenon is expected to persist through April, bringing regional extremes in precipitation and temperature across the United States.

La Niña, characterized by cooler-than-average Pacific Ocean temperatures, officially emerged in December and is forecast to last until spring, though it remains weaker than typical events.
The phenomenon is driving wetter conditions in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest, while Southern California and much of the southern U.S. remain drier than average.
Northern California has experienced significant rainfall, while Southern California faces extreme dryness, fueling destructive wildfires exacerbated by Santa Ana winds.
This La Niña's late onset and weak strength leave room for other atmospheric factors to influence weather patterns, leading to some deviations from typical La Niña impacts.
Experts caution that global warming and unusually warm ocean temperatures may have delayed La Niña's development and could amplify the effects of future climate patterns.