WASHINGTON -- Federal weather forecasters say the La Niña climate phenomenon that contributed to the southwestern U.S. drought is winding down.
The National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center says La Niña is showing signs that it will be over by summer. Center deputy director Mike Halpert said that's too late for the U.S. Southwest because the rainy season will be over by that time.
The effects of La Niña, a cooling of the central Pacific Ocean water, are generally weaker in summer. But it is good news for the Atlantic hurricane belt. More tropical storms and hurricanes form there during La Niñas.
Halpert said La Niña generally causes more weather damage to the USA than its flip side, the better known El Niño.
This La Niña was known as "double-dip" La Niña because there was one in the winter of 2010-11, then the waters in the Pacific warmed to a neutral state and then cooled again to another La Niña for 2011-2012.
Forecasters don't know what conditions will follow this La Niña. Usually a multi-year La Niña is not followed by a neutral event, Halpert said. It either goes to El Niño or comes back as another La Niña, he said.
USA Today