La Niña returns for the 3rd consecutive year for the 1st time this century
For the first time this century, the weather phenomenon known as La Niña has returned for the third year in a row. La Niña is likely to bring about more extreme weather across the whole globe.
The weather system is characterized by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific due to winds blowing the warm water on the surface of the Pacific towards Indonesia. This is the opposite of El Niño, which brings unusually warm ocean temperatures to the Equatorial Pacific.
The southwestern U.S. is likely to get drier weather and droughts while the northwestern U.S. is likely to see cooler temperatures as well as heavy rain and flooding, NPR reports. The Gulf Coast could also see a more severe hurricane and cyclone season, which has been evident for the past two years with 21 named storms in 2021 and a record-breaking 30 storms in 2020.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Usually, El Niño and La Niña events occur every two to seven years, typically lasting nine to 12 months, with El Niño occurring more often. Climate change is a large contributor to rising global temperatures and more extreme weather events, including La Niña.
World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said in a statement, "It is exceptional to have three consecutive years with a La Niña event."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Devika Rao has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022, covering science, the environment, climate and business. She previously worked as a policy associate for a nonprofit organization advocating for environmental action from a business perspective.
-
'Republicans want to silence Israel's opponents'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spies
Speed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 19, 2024
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - priority delivery, USPS on fire, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Blind people will listen to next week's total eclipse
Speed Read While they can't see the event, they can hear it with a device that translates the sky's brightness into music
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Melting polar ice is messing with global timekeeping
Speed Read Ice loss caused by climate change is slowing the Earth's rotation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Climate change is driving Indian women to choose sterilization
under the radar Faced with losing their jobs, they are making a life-altering decision
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
The hot controversy surrounding solar geoengineering
under the radar Solar geoengineering is feeling the burn
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Citizen science says anyone can be a scientist
The explainer Yes, even you. The practice is being increasingly accepted by researchers as a way to gather data.
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Lab-grown meat might be about to meet its maker
Under the radar The controversy at the intersection of cultured meat and agribusiness
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
What is the Anthropocene — and more importantly, when?
Under The Radar Just because a panel of scientists has rejected calls to classify a new global epoch does not mean it hasn't already begun
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Extreme weather events in the last year
In Depth Extreme weather events are becoming more common thanks to climate change, and are 'affecting every corner of the world'
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published