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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared the return of La Niña on Thursday, marking the start of an expected period of global cooling that nonetheless carried ominous signs about the trajectory of world temperatures.

In the United States, La Niña is known for warm and dry winter conditions across the country’s southern tier, and wet and snowy conditions from the Pacific Northwest to the northern Plains. However, cold and snow across the East tends to be less likely during La Niña.

Click here for a detailed breakdown of El Niño and La Niña systems.

From NOAA:

La Niña conditions are present and are expected to persist through February-April 2025 (59% chance), with a transition to ENSO-neutral likely during March-May 2025 (60% chance).

La Niña conditions emerged in December 2024 and were reflected in below-average sea surface temperatures (SSTs) across the central and east-central equatorial Pacific Ocean [Fig. 1]. The latest weekly indices were -0.7°C in Niño-3.4 and -0.6°C in Niño-4, with values close to zero in Niño-1+2 and Niño-3 [Fig. 2]. Subsurface cooling in the equatorial Pacific Ocean strengthened significantly [Fig. 3], with below-average temperatures dominating the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean [Fig. 4].

Low-level wind anomalies were easterly over the western and central Pacific, while upper-level wind anomalies were westerly over the central and eastern Pacific. Convection was suppressed over the Date Line and was enhanced over Indonesia [Fig. 5]. The traditional and equatorial Southern Oscillation indices were positive. Collectively, the coupled ocean-atmosphere system indicated La Niña conditions

The dynamical models in the IRI plume continue to predict a weak La Niña during the winter seasons, as indicated by the Niño-3.4 index values less than -0.5°C [Fig. 6]. The North American Multi-Model Ensemble (NMME) predicts slightly cooler SST anomalies with La Niña persisting through February-April 2025. The forecast team favors the NMME guidance, predicting weak La Niña conditions through the early spring before transitioning to ENSO-neutral. Weak La Niña conditions are less likely to result in conventional winter/spring impacts, though predictable signals can still influence the forecast guidance (e.g., CPC’s seasonal outlooks). In summary, La Niña conditions are present and are expected to persist through February-April 2025 (59% chance), with a transition to ENSO-neutral likely during March-May 2025 (60% chance; [Fig. 7]).

This discussion is a consolidated effort of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NOAA’s National Weather Service, and their funded institutions. Oceanic and atmospheric conditions are updated weekly on the Climate Prediction Center web site (El Niño/La Niña Current Conditions and Expert Discussions). Additional perspectives and analysis are also available in an ENSO blog. A probabilistic strength forecast is available here. The next ENSO Diagnostics Discussion is scheduled for 13 February 2025.

To receive an e-mail notification when the monthly ENSO Diagnostic Discussions are released, please message [email protected].

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