La Nina set to continue for third year
Other weather patterns may override temporarily
| 1 min read
Pacific Ocean sea surface temperature anomalies (in degrees Celsius) for the week centred on Sept. 14, 2022. (CPC.ncep.noaa.gov)
MarketsFarm — With fall soon upon North America, there’s nothing overly unusual with the continuation of La Nina, according to Drew Lerner, president of World Weather Inc. at Overland Park, Kansas.
Going into its third year, some people might think this is the third consecutive La Nina — but Lerner said it’s the same one, and its effects on North America have yet to be fully determined.
“In the autumn will we probably see this warm bias prevail for a while. Sometime in December it will turn colder, with a somewhat drier bias,” Lerner said, adding that just before winter the La Nina is likely to break down as other weather patterns come forward.
He noted that La Ninas are quite cyclical, coming every 11 years as they follow the solar cycle. This is most often seen after the solar minimums, in which an extended La Nina event can occur.
Lerner also pointed out that with every second solar cycle, the La Ninas usually become more intense, causing extreme weather.
While the most recent La Nina, prior to the current one, lasted from 2008 to 2010, the La Nina of 1999 to 2001 had a greater impact, quite similar to today’s.
According to Environment Canada, La Nina winters are often associated with below-normal temperatures on the Prairies and above-average precipitation in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec.
— Glen Hallick reports for MarketsFarm from Winnipeg.
