La Niña is over. What’s in the fall and winter forecast for Western Washington?

Fall and winter in Bellingham, and the rest of Western Washington, could be closer to seasonal norms, as last winter’s La Niña weather pattern — now in a neutral phase — is expected to return half-heartedly late in the year.

A La Niña watch issued last week indicates that Pacific Ocean surface temperatures off equatorial South America are expected to drop, a factor that typically means cold, wet weather for the Pacific Northwest.

In addition, long-range forecasts from the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center are showing a warmer-than-normal fall with equal chances of above- or below-normal rainfall. The National Weather Service defines fall as September, October and November and winter as December, January and February.

Deputy state climatologist Karin Bumbaco told The Bel