WASHINGTON – NOAA forecasters said Thursday that a brief return of La Niña conditions is possible over the next six months. However, chances are nearly as high that neutral conditions of what is known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation will continue through the foreseeable future.

Due to the possible changes in the status of the ENSO, NOAA said it is officially on a La Niña Watch , which will run through the emergence of a La Niña or until water temperatures start to warm in the Central and Eastern Pacific.

La Niña is the cool phase of the ENSO cycle and displays cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the Central and Eastern Pacific Ocean.

It is the opposite of what is known as an El Niño, when warmer waters dominate the same region.

When water temperatures have an anomaly be

See Full Page